Fully Devoted Or Bare Minimum?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.–Galatians 2:20

We have one primary calling for our lives; to lay our lives at the feet of Jesus and do whatever He asks.  As a follower of Christ, we have been bought with a price – the blood of Jesus.  We are not our own, we belong to Him. 

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.–Mark 8:34

In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”   What are His commands?  Is He only talking about the Ten Commandments?  When asked which of the commandments was the most important, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  And He said the second most important was to love your neighbor as yourself.  In reading these scriptures, I have to ask myself – am I obeying His commands?  Do I really love my neighbor as myself?  Am I denying myself and following Christ?  

The Ten Commandments are part of the Law.  Through the blood of Jesus, we walk in grace.  But think about this; the Law said if you commit murder you have sinned, but grace says that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.  The Law said do not commit adultery, but grace says if you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery in your heart.  Grace is not less than the Law.  

In his message last Sunday, our pastor made the point that what we consider to be living a good Christian life is really just the bare minimum. We praise someone for reading their Bible everyday, but that's the least we should be doing.  Jesus lived the life we were created to live. The book of Acts should inspire us to see who we could be if we allowed God to unleash His potential in us. 

I have been proud of myself for reading the entire Bible last year.  I have felt good about spending time with God everyday.  And these are good things, but they aren't the only thing.   

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.–James 1:27 (NLT)