April 22

Read: John 21:20-22

What is that to thee? follow thou me (John 21:22).

Yield The Future

Jesus asked Peter to follow Him no matter what the future might unfold. This too is a part of entire consecration. When I give myself fully to God, I accept His known will for the present. I also commit myself to accept His as yet unknown will for each decision that the future shall bring.

Can one thus really consecrate to God what he does not yet know? We cannot, of course, live all of life in a moment of time. But we can in a moment of decision resolve to give all of life to God.

This commitment of the future has sometimes been described as placing the “unknown bundle” upon the altar of consecration. As its contents become known to us one by one, the sanctified Christian accepts them. We remind ourselves and God that these things too were included when we said a full yes to the Holy Spirit.

Consecrating the future is like establishing a policy decision in a business firm. Once the policy has been laid down, each employee knows what to do when specific decisions arise that are covered by the policy. Without such policy decisions there are blundering, uncertainty, and struggle.

God’s plan is to save us from this kind of spiritual struggle and ineffectiveness. The consecrated Christian does not ask, Will I obey God in this new situation? When a full consecration has been made he only asks, What does God want me to do?

It is great spiritual gain to live where I can sing:

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.*

— Ira Stanphill

*Copyright Hymntime Publishers. Used by permission.