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 How Deep Is Your Love? It is a joy to see that we have all survived Y2K and are forging ahead into this new millennium. With this new age comes new challenges for our industry. In this year, new artists, producers, executives, and fans will embrace Gospel music as we all aim to take this art form to the proverbial "next level". As we pursue this goal, we must be careful of where we are going  and how we are getting there. God is
asking every member of this industry, "How deep is your
love for Me?" It’s a question merits some serious analysis
and reflection.Regardless of your position within this industry, there is a responsibility to uphold and a job to fulfill. While we are filling these obligations, for many of us, our relationship with God takes a back seat. Don't get me wrong, we are still singing in choirs, making hot tracks, and writing inspiring songs. However, if God ever asked us to make a life-changing sacrifice to benefit Him and the Kingdom, would we be able to answer the call? As we look throughout Biblical times, those who received special blessings from God are those who had special relationships with Him. These relationships were not built from mere lip service or head knowledge, but rather an undying faith in God and an unwavering commitment to Him. Two of these men are Abraham and Job. As we are all aware, Abraham was given the promise by God that He would be the father of many nations and Job was a man after God's own heart. Yet, both of these men were required to make unusual sacrifices that indeed changed the course of their lives. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, while Job was severely tested by God to show the devil where Job's true allegiance lay. During these amazing sacrifices, both men faced overwhelming adversity and neither of these circumstances made much sense to them. Yet, they were willing to trust God until He brought relief and that willingness won them amazing favor. There are numerous sacrifices that we as Christians are tasked to make. By merely making the decision to give our lives to Christ, we immediately face the task of resisting the temptations of our past to forge ahead to a refined and defined destiny. However, what happens when the sacrifice that is asked of you becomes deeply personal? Seriously, do you really think that if God asked you to forsake the number one thing that you love to follow Him that you'd be able to oblige Him? For some, God may ask you to lay down your national recording contract to reach your local assembly. For others, God may ask you to lay down some relationships and partnerships that you are convinced will ultimately hinder you from reaching your potential. It's hard to say what He'll ask. However, we know that the day for each of us will come where God will ask the depth of your love for Him? To be honest, many of us wouldn't give up things that are personal to us in favor of God. Why? Many of us don't trust God. I mean, we trust and believe on Him to pay our bills and to heal us from colds and the flu. However, we don't trust God with our daily and lifetime dilemmas. Many of us have issues and habit that, frankly, we love. Whatever the issue is, it's just too good to give up. In addition, we lean on God's grace and mercy to cover those sins and faults that we have. Yes, His grace and mercy are sufficient for us. Yet, there comes the time where God wants and needs to advance us to a new place in Him. There are people who need what you have to give and can only get it when you are in a place to receive from God to impart unto others. What God has for you, you can't receive in your current condition. Furthermore, He knows that the issues that you face are ones that won't be relinquished voluntarily. With that in mind, God lays it all on the line for us and will pose that inevitable question to us. If we would be willing to search the Scriptures, we would learn the advantages of trusting in God: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV) While this is one of the Bible's most popular passages, it is one of the least applied. Trusting God with everything that we have is so beneficial to us. When we do this, the God of the universe and creation will direct and lead us into the proper area. Our level of trust in God gives Him the same level of permission to work in our lives. The problem that many of us have is that we're unsure of where God is going to take us. Some of us think  that He's going to harm
us or put us in an uncomfortable position where we
won't grow or prosper. However, God is very
explicit about His agenda: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) God has a tremendous plan for us all but it requires that we trust Him. By trusting God, we will move into an area that God has predestined for us with a unique design of prosperity for us. If we would only trust God with our lives, our hearts, and our situations, He'll be happy to map out the course for our existence. In this millennial age, God is asking us about our love for Him because He's beginning to separate the wheat from the tares. He wants the world to know who is real and who is not. So then, our focus should be on our relationship with God and fulfilling the plan that He has for us. If you love Him, you will trust Him and that is what He wants to see. If we truly trust God, the sacrifices that He asks of us will not be as difficult because we will be certain of His promise to take care of us. So God now asks you, "How deep is your love for Me?"
February 1, 2000 |
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