5. A continual submission to the work of God in our lives today through the daily filling of the Holy Spirit.

Once you are in God’s camp the journey is not over, it is just beginning. It reminds me of the movie, “Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring.” In the first film of this trilogy, Frodo and his friends embark on a mission to take the evil ring to Rivendale – land of the elves. When he arrives, he begins to dream of going back home to the shire but soon begins to realize that this journey he has begun is far from over, and it is not going to be an easy journey.

Embarking On The Journey
Like this journey, embarking on the journey to follow Jesus is not over after you pray and accept what Jesus has done for you. It is just beginning and you are in for quite a ride!

Sometimes this journey will mean enduring things that we never wanted to endure. Sometimes it will mean doing things we never intended on doing. And sometimes it will mean giving up things we never intended to give up. Just as Frodo saw his mission as more important than keeping himself comfortable and safe, we need to think less of ourselves and more of the greater good that God’s plan is seeking to accomplish.

This journey requires a continual submission to God and to the work He has called you to. The important thing to remember is that your dreams and goals need to be in submission to His. God has a plan and it is worth following it, why? Because it is His plan and He created you. Who better to submit to than the one who knows you better than yourself.

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me. – Psalm 139:1-5

It Takes Commitment
Ultimately, Frodo commits to complete his mission no matter what it takes. At the end of “The Fellowship Of The Ring,” Frodo is off to accomplish his mission and he had no idea what he would be in for.

A relationship with God requires a similar type of commitment. It is a 100% commitment of our resources. Everything we are, everything we have, and everything we can do needs to be focused on the mission that God has given us to take on.

God is not looking for followers who are half-hearted or only looking for “fire-insurance.” Jesus made this point clear in a letter to the Laodicean church in Revelation.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16

Think about that – Jesus would either have you 100% for Him or 100% against him but He can’t stand this wish-washy weakly committed “christian” thing.

Don’t Go At It Alone
As he continues on his journey, Frodo does not go alone. While Frodo felt this was his mission and he had to do it alone, his friend Samwise Gamgee would not let him go alone. Sam served as Frodo’s friend, guide, protector, and strength while they journeyed together on this mission.

On our journey with God, we have a “Sam” that tags along with us guiding, protecting and giving us strength. Jesus described our “Sam” this way

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. – John 16:13-15

The Holy Spirit comes on us at the time we accept and believe what Jesus has done for us. He joins us on the mission God has given us to accomplish.

The Holy Spirit is resident within us and willing to help and guide us down the path. Just like Frodo did with Sam, we have the choice to hear that guidance and follow it or to go against it and endure the consequences that result. But through it all, the Holy Spirit is 100% committed to us, not matter what happens. God would let us go at it alone. He loves us to much to allow that. Moses reminded the Israelites of this fact shortly before he handed the reigns of leadership over to Joshua. He said,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

Everyday we need to ask the Holy Spirit to make Himself obvious to us and guide us in the way we should go.

This commitment is needed to accomplish our mission is foundational to following Jesus because it is exactly what Jesus did. He came to earth to accomplish His mission and He gave up what He wanted to accomplish what God the Father had planned in order to redeem the world.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. – Matthew 26:39

If we are going to follow his example then we need to be 100% committed no matter the cost. We need to be willing to give up our comforts, dreams, and desires – just like He did.