Andrew S M Clark

You can probably think of someone of whom you can say, ‘he’s really dedicated to his work’, or ‘she’s totally devoted to her sport’, or ‘he was so throughly committed to being the best husband he could.’ You don’t even have to look at the top of a sport or a profession to find these folks – it’s not judged on the level of outcome, but on the level of passion and dedication.

What about in the Christian life? Do we settle for less than total devotion to God above all else? Have you ever wondered why its totally acceptable to aim for total dedication to anything in life, but if you talk about your aim as being totally, radically devoted to Jesus, folks might squirm in their seats a bit? What does that even mean? Is it not enough to just confess him as Lord and Saviour, go to church, read your bible and say your prayers? Well, look at it this way – grace is amazing enough that repentance and faith bring you into a salvation relationship with God. There are no second tier Christians. God can use that kind of life so what’s the fuss?

Well…it’s just in the scripture we are furnished with stories of those who press in to the depths of what God’s has for them. From beginning to end, God calls people and it always results in something more, something deeper, something of varying degrees of significance in the mission of God relating to the task. Cast your mind over the biblical narrative. Watch God call people, watch God give them a purpose, and watch them bow before God in submission…preparing themselves for the task ahead.

I could pick a number of characters, but look at Moses at the burning bush. Look at Joshua and his encounter with the Angel of the Lord’s Armies – his call is ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you’ (Joshua 3: 5). Let’s go New Testament: Paul, writing to Timothy, says ‘Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work‘ (2 Timothy 2: 21).

It’s in that 2 Timothy verse that we get to the heart of things. Cleansing and consecration – removing the things that entangle to make space for the eternal. Flushing out sin, flowing in the Spirit. Covenant, promise, dedication, commitment = CONSECRATION. Totally devoted and set apart for the use of God in his mission.

I came to faith in a context where pretty much every week, we’d hear a call to big things…and to consecrate ourselves afresh to it. We totally believe that ‘the greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender‘ (William Booth). The SA hymnal had a whole section of songs about consecrating ourselves again. We signed articles pledging ourselves to Jesus and his mission, both at the local ‘church member’ level, and at the stage of moving into full-time dedicated ministry, signed life away again:

‘Called by God to proclaim the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as an officer of The Salvation Army, I bind myself to him in this solemn covenant: To love and serve him supremely all my days, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloved, and befriend those who have no friends, to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and, by God’s grace, to prove myself a worthy officer.’

On the basis of signing that covenant, we were released into ministry. Signed on our knees with tears and passion, confirmed at our public commissioning and ordination. This was a radical commitment to the mission of Jesus, but it had to be more than that, because this wasn’t a commitment to a movement, but to the Mover!

The consecration was to Jesus. He alone is worthy to have all there is of me. We can only truly give ourselves to others when we have totally given ourselves to Jesus.

When you step out on a battle field, you want to know that the solider fighting at your left and right is as dedicated to the battle and to the cause as you. In that moment, you’re trusting in that companionship to get you through. It is the very same in Christian mission. We step into a spiritual battle, and you want to know that you have devoted followers of Jesus by your side. Look at Jesus and his disciples. Look at Paul and his devoted companions. Look at the 72 as they are sent out on mission in 2s.

If we are serious about a move of God in our communities, I want to step out alongside those who are totally given over to God’s purposes for our community and who will seek him with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind and all their strength because we can’t individually do it alone. Like Moses, we need people to hold up our arms in battle. Like Peter, we need prayer support to get out of the prison. Like the churches Paul planted, and even the ones he didn’t, we need someone to write to us through tears and tell us of their devotion alongside us to the mission.

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said: ‘Abba, as far as I can, I say my prayers, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?’ The old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, ‘If you will, you can become all flame.’

Lord, I consecrate myself to you; I abandon my will, my desires, my pet sins and wants, my present, my future and all my powers to you…and I am persuaded that you, and you alone, are able to keep all that I have committed to you until that great Day when we will see you in all your glory. Lord, may I become all flame! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!