April 19

Read: Matthew 19:16-22

Yield yourselves unto God (Romans 6:13).

Yield Yourselves

Dr. J. B. Chapman used to tell of an Indian who related his experience in consecration: ‘I brought my pony and put him on the altar — but no blessing came. I added my blanket and my teepee still there was no blessing. Then I added my squaw and my papoose and there was no blessing yet. But when in addition to all these, I cried, ‘And this poor Indian, too, O Lord!’ the blessing came.”

God can use every thing and all the capacities that l consecrate to Him, but He is primarily interested in me. Jesus would have rejoiced at the relief from human suffering that the consecrated wealth of the rich young ruler might have brought to the poor, but primarily Christ wanted the full allegiance of the man. He asked the young man to give up his wealth only because that wealth represented an unyielded will. The young man’s supreme interest in personal possessions put God in second place.

This is the usual experience in our efforts to make a complete consecration. Many specific items can be yielded without a struggle, but God eventually puts His finger on the one thing that we prize above all else. It may be our money, a friend, our family, or some personal desire contrary to God’s plan for us. The thing itself may be trivial, but it is no small matter when we hold on to it contrary to God’s will. It becomes the occasion for the crucial test whether self-will or God’s will is to control our lives.

All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.

— J. W. Van Deventer