J. Grant Swank, Jr.
One
of the most liberating concepts to be actuated by the sanctified is:
"I don't belong to me. I belong to Jesus. I have been bought with a
price--His blood!"
When that is a sanctified reality, the
Christian is set free from his own manipulations and dreads. He is
liberated from his self-drive and concentration on "getting ahead."
There are no more comparisons with others' lives and ambitions.
The
believing yet carnal mind is forever professing Jesus as Savior while
ignoring Him as Lord. It is a mindset which, according to Scripture,
is double-minded.
Naturally this split-head state has to be
the most miserable plight for any religious person to endure. One side
is with God; the other side is on self-drive.
Sanctification
is a conscious surrender of one's entire existence to Jesus, not only
as Savior, but just as importantly, as Master and Lord. Therefore, the
sanctified must activate in practical living the "I don't belong to me;
I belong to Jesus" mindset.
After
all, it was this Jesus who bought us with His blood. We are indeed
purchased with the priceless gift of divine blood shed at Calvary.
Why
is not this submission a once-and-for-all inner experience? Because
the human activates free will in every conscious moment. Life is
fluid. Therefore, the crisis experience of sanctification must be
followed by the continuing experience of sanctification.
Therefore,
this day will call forth from you your choices for self-drive or Jesus
control. To decide on the former is to be carnal. To choose the
latter is to be sanctified.
When the Christian no longer
seeks his own security, position, and acclaim, then he is free to be
love slave to Jesus. Until then, the Christian connives, many times
subtly, to provide his own security, position and acclaim.
Therefore,
getting personal, do you complain to God about the small church you
pastor--struggling, dealing with persons who don't seem to care that
much about eternal matters?
If you are a layman, do you exist in a similar stressful situation?
If
so, then say to yourself: "I don't belong to me; I belong to Jesus. I
have been bought with His blood. This is where Jesus has placed me. As
a love slave to Him, I will accept this for this is where He--in all
His wisdom and love--has placed me."
This is spiritual minimalism at its freest.
Do
you sit back and, scanning the peoplescape, wonder why it is that you
are left in the dust while others are flying high in the sky? Wonder
why it is that servers are not given the applause that getters seem to
come by? Wonder why it is that you are left at the back of the line
while others are glowing at the front of the line?
All
of this is ultimately of no concern to the sanctified for the latter no
longer work on self-drive; they are under directives from
Jesus--solely. What happens with others' places in life does not matter.
Once
someone said to me, "Where are you in your career?" I answered, "I
don't have a career. I have a calling. And where I am is not up to
me. It is up to Jesus. Frankly, I hardly ever know where I am; and in
that I am free."
The world is large. Human history is
long. Where we "fit" into the positioning this-and-that of others is
finally beyond our comprehension anyhow. We could never take it in for
we do not have the analytical equipment by which to do so.
Jesus
views the large world. He overscopes human history. He knows then
just where HE needs each sanctified servant to "fit"--especially you.
Therefore, all decisions regarding your biography are always with
Jesus. Live with that and be at peace. Accept that and be set free.
I don't belong to me; I belong to Jesus. I have been purchased by His blood.