God's ancient people had a challenge when God
sent them to take the land of Canaan - a big piece
of ground. God's strategy for taking a lot of territory
is laid out in our word for today from the Word
of God in Deuteronomy 7. In verse 17, God says to
His people, "You may say to yourselves, 'These
nations are stronger than we. How can we drive them
out?"
Then He says in verses 21 and 22, "Do not be
terrified ... for the Lord your God who is among
you is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God
will drive out those nations before you, little
by little." How do you conquer a massive piece
of ground? Little by little.
Over and over, we've heard the challenge to "dedicate
your life to Jesus Christ." And you may have
even responded, and dedicated your life and rededicated
your life. But if you're like many of us, you've
struggled with how to dedicate your life. After
all, your "life" is a huge piece of ground. But
God's plan for you giving control of your life to
Him is a lot like taking Europe or Canaan ... one
beachhead at a time.
In other words, while you're trying to give Jesus
everything, be sure you surrender a specific something
to Him each new day. That's why Jesus said to take
up His cross daily. There's no grand and glorious
dedication decision that you can make that settles
this once and for all. But here's a commitment that
will work: "Jesus, each new day I will consciously
surrender a specific part of me for You to control
that day." As you spend time in His Word, He'll
show you the area He'd like to focus on in that
24 hours.
See, it's all about taking daily beachheads ...
letting Jesus take control of one little piece of
your life each new day - one part of your life under
His control. And you go from there to take another
beachhead the next day. And some day you'll lay
at His feet a whole life you gave to Him, one thing
at a time, one day at a time.
Yes, you crown Jesus Lord of your whole life. But
you act out that commitment with daily surrenders
of real, specific parts of you, expanding His Lordship
a little more each day. Living the Jesus-life isn't
about some once-and-for-all super dedication commitment.
It's a life of a thousand little victories ... taking
ground from the enemy and raising the flag of Jesus
over it one beachhead at a time.
