Listen to Nancy answer this question recorded on Moody Radio with Kelli and Steve
I had the privilege of hearing former football great Deion Sanders speak about his new job as coach at the University of Colorado. He said that he recruits those athletes who are “all in” with their commitment to playing football for the University. He is not afraid to release players from the team if they are not 100% unwavering in their work ethic to the team and their success. As a devout Christian, Deion is 100% all into his faith by living it out in all areas of his life. Needless to say, he is causing a bit of a stir with the University because he is not afraid to encourage students with scripture and prayer.
From the Desert News, “Since January, two faith-related organizations have contacted the school about Sanders’ religious habits, One alleged that he and some of his staff members were breaking the law by praying with players, while the other warned the school that it could be violating Sanders’ religious rights.”
The Christian life begins when they commit to trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. To believe in Jesus is not repeating a prayer. It is not a mental ascent but a life-long commitment to be all-in with Jesus as Friend, Savior, and Lord. Deciding to follow Christ is anything but easy.
God requires much of those who believe.
”And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
Moses addressed Israel and asked them a question:
“Now Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?” In the same breath, Moses answered: “To fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good” (Deuteronomy 10:12–13).
Everything God does is for His glory and our good. He was telling and showing us that life on this planet does not work without our total dependence on Him. We can choose whom we will follow momentarily: God or Self.
We are commanded by God to:
Fear Him.
For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God. For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer’s fear is reverence or being in awe of God.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
Obey Him
Jesus requires us to follow His example of loving and serving others. The Word of God is truth and our guide on living. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, our guide, we can please God by loving and serving others.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine’” (John 8:31).
Love Him
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38).
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).
Conform to His Image
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2)
From what we read through the Scriptures if a profession of faith does not come from a heart of genuine love and devotion to God, it is not faith. God requires of us our whole hearts. Considering all that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have done for us, we owe whatever He requires of us with our lives.
Micah 6:8: “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”