Wholly Committed

Show me a person who has walked away from the faith, and I’ll show you a series of smaller steps that led to that decision.

When someone backslides, it’s generally very subtle and very gradual. It’s like cutting off the fuel to a train going full power down the tracks. The train doesn’t suddenly stop. It still goes on because it has momentum. It slows down gradually and eventually stops.

It’s the same way with our spiritual lives. As we’re fueling our Christian lives and moving forward, there is lots of power. But then one day we stop doing the things we need to do to grow spiritually. We’re still chugging along, but we’re slowing down. Then our progress gets slower and slower until one day it finally comes to a standstill. This is why we need to keep as much distance from sin as we possibly can.

An elderly man who was known for his godly life was asked, “What do you do when you get tempted?”

The man replied, “I just look up to Heaven and say, ‘Lord, your property is in danger.’ ” That is a great thing to say.

The Bible tells us, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy’ ” (1 Peter 1:15–16 NLT). And 2 Timothy 2:21 says, “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work” (NLT).

We need to live a sanctified life, which means being set apart. We need to be holy, but we also need to be wholly committed to Christ.