Let Go and Take Hold

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' "
— Isaiah 41:13

A man who fell over the side of a cliff was hanging on to a branch that was starting to give way. Recognizing it was only a matter of time before he would fall to his death, he shouted, "Is anybody up there? Somebody help me!" Suddenly Jesus appeared, leaned over the edge, and said, "Young man, reach out and take my hand, and I will save you. But first, you must let go of that branch you are holding on to." The man didn't want to let go of the branch.

Jesus told him, "You must take hold of My hand and let go of the branch, or I cannot pull you up." The man paused for a minute and said, "Is anybody else up there?" A lot of us don't want to let go. We still want to hold on to a part of our old lives. But there has to be a moment in each of our lives in which we have recognized we are sinners and have asked for God's forgiveness. Then Jesus Christ comes in. But we have to let go. Then some changes must take place.

The Bible says there is a spiritual blindness in all those who have not yet turned their lives over to Jesus Christ. So we must have our spiritual eyes opened. We must turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (see Acts 26:18). As we yield to God and His will for our lives, then we will receive the forgiveness of sins. Then we will see the incredible benefits of making those changes.

But we have to let go of our branch and take hold of His hand.

'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
-Acts 26:18 (NKJV)

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

I heard a wise man once say, "God, I want to be in Your will and not in Your way." It took ole Dave a while to figure that I don't "do" for God, even though it seems to be that way from our perspective, but it is God who works through us to accomplish His goals. And with that said, He can "get-er-done" with or without Dave. Read my hero Adrian Rodger's comment on this.

"One of the greatest secrets I have ever learned is this: God doesn’t want me to do anything for Him. He wants to do something through me. People say, “Well, I just serve God in my poor, little, old weak way.” I feel like saying, “Well, quit it.” He doesn’t want you to serve Him in your poor, little, old weak way. He wants you out of the way, so He can flow through you! We need to make ourselves available to God and say, “God, I’m tired of being inhibited. I want to be inhabited by You. I want You to live Your life through me.”

-Adrian Rodgers

...and all of God's people said, "Amen"

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