“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2nd Tim. 2:12)
I would ask you to consider joining what is commonly referred to as a religious organization and will offer you here just a few of the requirements, the stipulations that you will need to adhere to.
You must hate this world is the first, the offerings that bring pleasure to your flesh which our King has phrased thusly.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1st John 2:16)
Those day-to-day pleasures that this world offers you must no longer seek after.
Next would be that you must hate your own family, they are to be placed second behind your King, and if they do not also follow His ordinances, they are to be forsaken completely.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2nd Cor. 6:14)
This of course includes all past and present friendships, and of course any possible future relationships, if they do not also serve your King. There is to be no interpersonal relationship with them either.
Next will be a hatred of your own life.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:25)
You will be required to detest any and all desires within yourself that do not fall in line with the desires of your new Master, along with any selfish ambitions that do not lift up His name. All of your past accomplishments are to be counted as dung, as a complete and total waste of your time, and any future endeavors that you may attempt to attain to, if not for His glory alone, are to be abstained from. In a word all of the previous statements can be stated thusly, you are to die to self, completely and without any reservations.
Next, you must be willing to accept whatever your King brings into your life, there is to be no questioning of this, as one of His servants of the past has put it.
“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10)
If our Lord, which is just one of the ways you will always be expected to address Him, decides to give you the things you desire, you will accept them, if He decides to remove all from you and leave you with nothing but the food you need for that day and the clothes on your back, that also will be accepted by you, and you will be expected to lift us His Holy name in your heart no matter which He decides for you.
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1st Tim. 6:8)
You also must be willing, and not only willing but expecting to suffer both mental and physical pain if that is His will for you, accepting it with joy and thanksgiving for as long as He determines to leave you in it, along with any chastisements He decides to bring into your life.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6)
In a word my friends, you will be expected to accept His Sovereign will in your life no matter what circumstances He decides to bring into your life, or the possible consequences to yourself. If He says you are to die for Him, you will be expected to die for Him in the manner He has chosen. You will be allowed to retain some of your free will, but never at the expense of His will for you.
Now, I would be remiss if I did not reveal to you some of the rewards for this total and willing service to the Almighty.
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1st Cor. 2:9)
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
A terrible price was paid for you, the One who offers you all that is written here and requires all that was written here is worthy of all that He asks of you.
The choice is yours.
