GIVE IT ALL
Genesis 22:1-19

Commitment is nothing but having nothing to hold on to when His calling sounds in your direction. Throughout the pages of the Bible, every man who answered to the calling of God and were able to give it all were the ones with great exploits for the glory of God. Abraham was called by God, “…Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2) Abraham had been receiving and obeying God’s command, but the one for the request of Isaac was like no other one. After waiting for so many years to have Isaac, God requested for Isaac to be sacrificed. The provocation of God’s hand in Abraham’s response was not only in Abraham’s obedience but also in his immediate and non-questioning response to God’s request. The Bible records that “…Abraham rose early in the morning…” (Genesis 22:3) He responded and gathered all that it would take to sacrifice his only son. What a way of saying to God: “Here I am! I am committed to all of Yours”. Elisha, when he was founded by the word and sent by God through Elijah, answered but had to settle with his past and present before he could go all the way in committing himself. In Elisha’s response to his calling, “…He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you. ‘ And he said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’”(1Kings 19:20) In his doing away with his past and present, he “took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.”(1 Kings 19:21) Elisha terminated all by getting rid of his entire animal. He went further deeper by using his equipment as a boiler because it is mentioned here “he boiled their flesh using the oxen equipment.” This is a demonstration of commitment that calls for no turning back. All through the New Testament, there were instances where the called have to give up all and follow the Lord. Jesus addressed the call of discipleship when He stated in Mark 8:34, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” It takes all to be committed in answering to Him. Have you been considering if you are fully following Him? Think of it; if there is any thing that is taking you away in serving Him, you are yet to do away with the past and present that are prominent in your life. Give it all and He will see you through it all by His grace.