So what is your opinion of leftovers?

On one hand, I love them, because that means I can be “lazy” and just warm something up rather than being creative and making a whole new meal.

On the other hand, I don’t care for them at all – they’re often “mushy”, overcooked the second time, or all the flavors blend together.

Neither impression of leftovers is particularly appealing – especially when we talk about serving them to God.

Are we lazy? Giving God our leftovers because it’s easier than being creative? Easier than making the effort to prioritize? Easier than sacrificing a bit of ourselves and our time? Or are we giving Him our “mush?” Have we taken the best, freshest, “first-fruits” of our labors, and left Him with the rewarmed, over-cooked, all mixed-together seconds?

How generous of us…from either perspective.

In my post about the Preface, I even wrote about exactly what he’s challenging in this chapter: falling asleep on God. I busted myself without even knowing it! Chan writes, “God gets a scrap or two only because we feel guilty for giving Him nothing. A mumbled three-minute prayer at the end of the day, when we are already half asleep” (pg 97).

Now, I will say that there’s something safe and comfortable about falling asleep while talking to your Best Friend. I remember fondly the slumber parties of my youth when we’d fall asleep amid each other’s stories – none of us particularly wanting to be the first to nod off, but knowing it was bound to happen.

My personal opinion is that if you’re living in God during the day – praying, praising, giving yourself to Him – that if you happen to fall asleep as you’re praying at night, that might be OK. When there’s a true issue is when you’ve put Him off til the end of the day – then at the end of the day, you realize, “Oh shoot – I still have to pray.” Then you ever so generously squeeze in a couple minutes and accidentally fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion while you’re praying. That’s the kind of leftovers to which I can imagine God saying, “No thank you.”

As Chan says, “Jesus’ call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing” (pg 85). Several times throughout the Bible, we’re told to “love the Lord with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves” (Deut 6:5, Deut 13:3, Mt 22:37, Mark 12:30, Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27).

So… if it was repeated that many times in the Word… you think He means it? You think it might be important?

If we turn to God, He will give us the ability to love Him in such a way. Deuteronomy 30:2 and 6 says, “and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then…The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”

We are human. It is not within our capabilities to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are too selfish. It is only through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:17) that we’re able to love God. It is because of our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, that we’re seen as righteous in His eyes. We are promised in Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness” – in our own strength, we are not capable of loving God as much as He commands. But if we give ourselves over to Him, the Holy Spirit will help us in our weakness."

Similarly, when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We do not possess this fruit (singular - the Spirit gives us ALL of them) on our own – we are frail and imperfect sinners. We can express those qualities periodically and individually, but they are not qualities inherent to us -- especially all in one. Only through the Spirit can we bear fruit. Only through the Spirit can we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Page 87 contains key sentences that I believe are imperative to hear, remember, and praise God for: “I do not want true believers to doubt their salvation as they read this book. In the midst of our failed attempts at loving Jesus, His grace covers us. Each of us has lukewarm elements and practices in our life; therein lies the senseless, extravagant grace of it all. The Scriptures demonstrate clearly that there is room for our failure and sin in our pursuit of God.”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

It’s very easy in this chapter (and the past one) to look at it as slightly legalistic. If I check off all these things, then I’m a Christian. If I follow all these rules and steps, then I’m saved. However, the Bible makes it clear that works will not gain our salvation. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

However, I think that it’s also important to understand that works come through faith. When we have faith in God, we are to be obedient to Him. When we’re obedient to Him, He’ll use us. When He uses us, there will be action. And of course, action often will come in the form of works – loving others, giving to others, serving others. While most certainly works don’t save us, they are an indicator of the transformation that took place when we gave ourselves to Christ. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). As verse 19 goes on to say, even demons believe there is a God and fear Him. It is our works that distinguish us as true believers – works that are Spirit-led.

I also think that we need to be careful not to judge others by their works. “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” John 7:24. Only God can see and know a person’s heart. All of us are sinners, all of us are fallen, all of us need to be saved by grace through faith.

A couple weeks ago in church, one of the pastors shared a different perspective on the “Pearl of Great Price” Biblically, the Pearl of Great Price is a parable referring to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, this perspective was written by a man named Juan Carlos Ortiz. In this illustration, Jesus is the pearl. To paraphrase:

A man wants to buy a very valuable pearl. The person selling it declares it to be very expensive. When asked if he could buy it, the person said that anyone can buy it, but that it will cost everything he has. So they start writing down everything… house, boat, cars, all the possessions. Then he asks what else? He says that all he has left is family – so the man takes that, too, and is reminded that it will also cost the man his life. He has literally paid everything for this expensive pearl. However, the seller concludes: “I will allow you to use all these things for the time being. But don't forget that they are mine, just as you are. And whenever I need any of them you must give them up, because now I am the owner.”

Please click this link to read the full excerpt, as it really is more powerful than I can paraphrase.

When my children were born, we immediately returned them to God. They are His children. They are on loan to us. They are precious gifts, but they are His. Yet, while we willingly gave Him back our most precious gifts – have we done that with everything else? With our money? Our material goods? Our job? Our house? Our hurts, fears, and pains? I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t.

I’m left with this question and this song:

What if I Gave All? (by Ray Boltz)
He heard the preacher say
A single dime can feed
A hungry boy or girl
With nothing to eat
So he pulled a dollar
From the pocket of his jeans
And he asked his mama
How many will this feed?
She just smiled
And when she told him ten
He reached back again

CHORUS:
What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child, a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
He didnt close his eyes
Or turn away
I can see him standing tall
He saw the need
And I can hear him say
What if I give all

Three birthday dollars
Could have bought a special toy
But he reminds me
Of another little boy
Who gave to Jesus
A gift of fish and bread
I wonder if he said

CHORUS:
What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child, a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
He didnt close his eyes
Or turn away
I can see him standing tall
He saw the need
And I can hear him say
What if I give all

And long ago a Father and a Son
Saw the children lost in sin
Can you see the tears
In the Fathers eyes
As Jesus says to him

What if I gave all I have?
What will that gift do?
My Son, that gift
Will change the world
It will free the multitudes

What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude

We cannot close our eyes
And turn away
When we hear His Spirit call
We see the need
Now let Him hear us say
What if I give all?
What if I give all?