by John Grant
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
Sold as a yearling for a paltry $11,000, ridden by a rookie jockey hardly anyone knew and stuck in an outside post no horse had ever won from – not exactly a blueprint for success at Churchill Downs. I’ll Have Another just didn’t seem to have the goods to win the Kentucky Derby. The winning odds were 15-1.
But with the finish line in sight, the chestnut colt overtook the more favored horse in the final furlong to make a name for himself and his unknown twenty-five year old rider. He stormed out of post No. 19, a position no horse had ever won the race from and never looked back until he crossed the finish line. He went on to win the Preakness and if he wins the Belmont, will become the first Triple Crown winner in thirty-four years.
He was largely a mystery to the record crowd, who didn’t know the horse and jockey had the right stuff until the 20-horse field turned for home. That’s when he, who moved up between horses around the final turn, positioned not far from the rail and set down to run and run he did. Both the horse and his rider gave it their all, their best, their all, their total, their everything.
Jesus quoted the greatest commandment as loving the Lord “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). The whole of who you are is the best you can give Him. To give Him only a part of yourself is to fall short of loving Him as He deserves. Use not only your spiritual gifts but also your personality, heart passions and experience and strength along with your walk with God, presenting yourself as a living sacrifice to Him.
Throughout the Old Testament we read of the Israelites giving God the first fruits and the best of the flock. We serve the same God. He is still worthy of the first and best of our time, efforts, and resources. To give Him leftover or misdirected time and energy is to fall short of giving Him the place in your life He deserves. Focus on what you do best, giving that your primary effort.
To give Him a half-hearted or sloppy effort is to fall short of glorifying Him as He deserves. Serve where you will be most effective, doing it in the name and power of the Lord Jesus.
Question: Are you willing to give God your best, your first, your total, your all?
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/09/10/jg_what-you-give/
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