1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12:14

Here is a group of men who came to David. They swam the Jordan River at flood time. They were just about to give up and David went down to meet them. He didn’t know whether they were friends or enemies and he said in effect, “If you mean to harm me, I’ll destroy you.” They said, “Oh no, David, we have come over to be on your side.” They wanted to live for David. They wanted to be on his side and in his service. Too many Christians who want to be in the service of the Lord think that it is just a matter of being busy. However, the point is: do you want to live for Christ? That is what these men from Gad were saying to David. “We want to be on your side, David. We want to yield ourselves to you and live for you.” We can carry this spiritual application a step further. Christ has brought you over “Jordan” by His death and resurrection, and He has blessed you with all spiritual blessings. But you have to return to the world to live the Christian life. The Lord Jesus prayed for His own, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (Joh_17:15). We are to live the Christian life here and now. My friend, the only place you ever will have an opportunity to live the Christian life is right down here on this earth.

And to do this, you will have to yield to Christ. This idea today that living the Christian life is a cheap sort of thing, that it is compromise and hypocrisy, is dead wrong. You will have to swim the water. It will cost you something. You will have to go to the One who is greater than Davidto the Lord Jesusand surrender to Him. Oh, what joy it is to be in His service!