Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.
DAILY READING – Philippians 1:12-30; Ezekiel 19; Isaiah 48
History records the amazing conquest of the great city of Aztec in Mexico by a small band of Spanish soldiers in 1519. These small band of Spanish soldiers were able to achieve such a feat due to deadly commitment to their objective. Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico on the shores of the Yucatan, with only one objective…seize the great treasures known to be there, hoarded by the Aztecs. Cortez was committed to his mission and his quest for riches is legendary. Cortez was an excellent motivator, he convinced more than 500 soldiers and 100 sailors to set sail from Spain to Mexico, commanding 11 ships, to take the world’s richest treasure. The historic question is “how did a small band of Spanish soldiers arrived in a strange country and swiftly brought about the overthrow of a large and powerful empire that was in power for over six centuries?”
For Cortez, the answer was easy. It was all or nothing! A Complete and Total Commitment. When Cortez and his men arrived on the shores of the Yucatan he rallied the men for one final pep talk before leading his men into battle, and utters these three words that changed the course of history. “Burn the Ships”.He met with resistance from his men. “Burn the ships,” he repeated. He then uttered these words “if we are going home, we are going home in their ships”. With that, Cortez and his men burned their own ships, and by burning their own ships, the commitment level of the men was raised to a whole new level. A level much higher than any of the men, including Cortez, could have ever imagined. Amazingly, the men conquered the Aztecs and had succeeded in something where others had been unsuccessful for six centuries. With the victory, Cortez and his men took the treasure.
Why they succeeded against all odds was because they had no retreat plan, no fall back position. They had no choice! It was “succeed or die”. Their ships were burned. They had no way to get back. Their backs were to the wall.
If this men could be so dedicated in their quest for gold, how much more dedicated should we be in our quest for God. Dedication has been described as deadly commitment. It means putting your hands to the plough without the option of turning back.
Our commitment as Christians cannot be complete until we come to the decision to serve God totally without an option of turning back. Retreat is easy when you have the option. But when you decide like Paul that to live is Christ and to die is gain, then there no option but to go forward. That is why in the armours listed in Ephesians 6 there is no defense for your back, because you never meant to turn back, you must keep pressing forward.
Your choice for dedication today guarantees your distinction tomorrow. When your life is planted, you will be supernaturally advancing from glory to glory. Glory will not come until the mystery of dedication is in place. To truly achieve the level of success we each desire, we must need to “burn the ships.”, by forsaking all, taking up the cross and following Jesus. Everything that makes great had its roots in grace! Nobody’s life will be any more glorious than His dedication to God. Until you stop engaging, you don’t stop advancing. You know the great vision God has shown you. you know you are created for the topmost place. You know you are headed for glory. Therefore do not accept anything less. Do not accept defeat, do not accept limitation or compromise. In this war, there is no room for retreat or surrender. You must never stop your journey halfway. You can’t afford to. You have come too far from where you started from. Yes, the journey may not be easy, but God is committed to ensuring you finish well. God has never failed and He will not start with you. What He starts He finishes. God has no abandoned projects. Faithful is He that called you, who always will do it. He that begun this good work in you will complete it. You have come too far to turn back, you must keep pressing forward. There is an end in sight. There is a glorious destiny awaiting you. It is he that endures to the end that reaps. And as you endeavor to continue to praise God for how far He has brought you, He will ensure your journey and quest in life ends well.
PRAYER: Lord , I praise You for all your goodness in my life, past present and future. I am truly grateful for how far You have brought me. Thank You so much Lord Jesus for Your unending love for me.
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When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]