Come To The Upper Room: Lenten Devotions From Time Of GraceExemplo

Come to the upper room--and be challenged

It cost you nothing to become a Christian. The conquering of Satan the destroyer, the blood payment, the agony of the cross, the bearing of the heavy load of the sins of the world, the experience of God’s rejection and condemnation in your place, suffering the torments of hell itself--all these things Christ accomplished on your behalf without any help from you. And all the benefits of his mighty work are yours through faith, free to all who believe in him and claim them.

But it will cost you everything to be a Christian. Jesus commands and demands nothing less than that you now place him on the throne of your life, set aside your personal agenda and replace it with his, view all your possessions as really his, and submit your giant ego to his will. In the dark upper room, just a few hours before the crucifixion, Jesus gave his disciples a serious challenge: “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

Learning Christ’s will and ways and then choosing to give him your obedience is a profound act of worship. In some ways it means much more to him than your hosannas and hallelujahs, which after all might be just talk. Obedience to God shows that your faith-statements are real. Second, obedience to God will benefit greatly the people around you, for you will hurt them less.

Obedience to Christ is also the surest path to your own personal satisfaction and happiness in life. Give it gladly.