Many Christians, when asked, will say that they are willing to do "anything" for the Lord. They are prepared to go to the ends of the earth for Him, or so they say. A very famous example of this very thing is found in the Gospels, when Peter, asked by Jesus said something very much to that effect. " Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake." (Jn 13:38) And the following account speaks of how Peter, when pressed, ended up denying Jesus three times.
Peter did eventually give up his whole life for the Lord, and went on to be a very important figure in the days following the crucifixion. It is not so much that one should be willing to physically die in a blaze of martyrdom for Christ as it is the slow, recurring process of daily death to self in order to bring Life to others that is the true ultimate sacrifice that one can make for the love of God's sake.
Too many Christians come to God with a sectional commitment. These are the "thus far and no further folk". When it gets tough they are the first to turn and run the other way. And then when things quiet down they are back in their church buildings, in their finery and going through the motions and the rituals hoping that all their neighbours are there to see how "good" a Christian they are. But, what does God see ? "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Pro 21:2)
When you give God a blank cheque and you turn it over to Him, for Him to fill it out, then your life is no longer your own, it belongs to the One who died for you." For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Cor 6:20) "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Lk 9:23) This also means that there can be nothing that ever comes between you and your relationship with the Lord. He must be first and foremost in your life, no matter what else you have going on, and no matter how "important" that something else is, Jesus comes first. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exo 20:3) Whatever is coming between you and the Lord is a "god" that you are setting before God, and if you are truly called by Him to a higher calling then He will see to it that that "other god" doesn't survive.
"What ? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1Cor 6:19) Once you have turned your life over to Jesus, He takes it ! You are no longer in control, so the quicker you learn that God is the One who knows what's best, the sooner you will be able to have the life that He intends for you to have. Rich and fulfilling in His love, truth and peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Jn 14:27) It is not the outward appearance of peace that Jesus is talking about, but rather that inner deep peace of mind and spirit that transends all normal understanding. The world can be going to hell, and it is, but you will be able to be at peace in the midst of storm because you have the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ !
Now all of this can only happen once you have turned over your whole life to the service of God and others; and still none of it is possible without a personal, intimate relationship with your Creator. There is no substitute to your relationship with Jesus; nothing else comes close to the same level of satisfaction and reward of joy. And the only way to build a good, strong and lasting relationship with the Lord is the same as any relationship, you have to dedicate time to it. Get to really know Him through His Words, the Bible, and ask that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes and heart to understand His words the way they were meant to be understood. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:9) Get to know His ways through prayer and peaceful meditation on His Word. Don't come to Him with a pre-planned agenda, come with an open heart and you won't be dissapointed.
But before you embark on a life dedicated to the Lord, you need to sit down and count the cost of what that means. And in short, what it means is that it will cost you everything, including your self. You may lose everything and everyone around you from your old life. Are you prepared to do that ? Is your love for Jesus strong enough and deep enough to weather the winds of change ? "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it ?" (Lk 14:28) But if you got what it takes, and God has called you, nothing else will satisfy. Give Him Carte Blanche today !