Present Yourselves Again

In Luke 2:21-40, we read about Jesus dedication. I love the words used in the New Living Translation in that it says, “His parents took him to Jerusalem to PRESENT Him to the Lord, but consider what that involved. They weren’t able to just get in the car and drive for a few minutes across town to the nearest temple - they had to walk, and Bethlehem was almost 9km away from Jerusalem.
I wonder how serious we would be about the things of God today, if we had to walk everywhere. Today we take so many things for granted. We live in a fast-paced, instant-gratification world, where if I can’t get it now, then I don’t want to wait for it.
Is there a possibility that our relationship with God is lived in the same way? What would be different if our response was, “God, not matter what, I will serve you; no matter how long it takes to see break though, I will stand believing; no matter what the cost, I will do what you want me to do.” Not only would that be a powerful response, we would be powerful individuals.
Consider Joseph and Mary. The committed to bring their Child up in the ways of God, but there also came a time when Jesus had to choose for Himself that He would see this through. People may say, “Yeah, well He was God. It was easy for Him”. Well, Jesus was still human. He still had to make choices to obey His Father. He had to stir Himself; and He had to get up and pray when he was tired; He had to deal with people (some had tempers, some were thieves, and yes, some were just like you and I). We have that same responsibility. As parents we are required to bring our children up in the ways of God and as adults, we are required to live this out in our own lives.
We see baby dedications (or presentations) in church, Why not present yourselves again to the Lord? Go again.
Pray this: “God, today I surrender to You again. No matter where I've come from, as of today, I choose to give you my best.” Then determine to live it out and see what He will do.   
Have an amazing week, Adrian Nyhuis

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