We got nothing less from Jesus Christ as He became a sacrifice for us. God could have saved us any way He wanted but chose to save us by brutal sacrifice on a cross. Why? I don’t know for sure. I do believe God knows exactly what it feels like to be man. He understands temptation, injustice, and pain. He understands the value we have in life itself. Our sin was so great, only God Himself could have saved us.
- 1 Colossians 2:9-10, “For in Him dwell all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
God did not give us half of the Godhead; He gave us all (Colossians 2:8-10). Why then should we believe we owe Him less than all of us? I understand God works with each one of us in a unique way as He helps to grow us, but our goal should always to be toward holiness. When we accept the gift of salvation, we are not asking God to save part of us, but all of us.
- 1 Corinthians 10:21, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.”
Another area of our lives where I believe we’re expected to give one-hundred percent is our marriage. Marriage is to be much more than a business deal with each giving their contribution. Christian marriage is a covenant so significant that Jesus used the term when referring to Himself and the church (which is us). He gave Himself for the church, and we are to do the same; the church giving all glory to Him.
- Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
If more husbands and wives today gave one-hundred percent to each other I doubt there would be as many divorces as there are. By both putting the other’s needs above their own and considering their spouse better than themselves, not only is each person’s needs and desires going to be met, but the love and devotion between them should continue to intensify. I see marriage being too often being viewed as fifty-fifty. The fifty percent a spouse is contributing might not be meeting the needs of the other. There are bound to be some problems.
I really believe part of a healthy Christian walk is striving to be better and give more. We can’t out-give God.
Scripture references are quoted from the NKJV.