God's Part - My Part

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Leviticus 19:1-20:21

"Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for the I am the Lord your God.  And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you."  Leviticus 20:7-8 (NKJV)

Our walk with God is a wonderful cooperation between us and God.  It is a partnership, a collaboration, an agreement.  Or is it?  Is it ALL OF GOD.  Or is it OUR EFFORTS to keep up with Him?  A "God-centered" view would say that I can do nothing.  "It all must be God and God alone.  I am unable to add one iota to Him.  All I can do is allow Him to live His life out in me as I surrender to Him."  This is the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD view.

Another view would say that God expects us to keep our walk ordered and correct.  He will not do it for us.  We are responsible.  This is the RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN view.

Which is correct?  We find in these verses today BOTH.

In verse 7, God commands us to CONSECRATE YOURSELVES.  We are called to make decisions and follow through with actions that are in compliance with God's law -- His revealed will.  Then, in verse 8, we are told that God says of Himself, "I am the Lord who sanctifies you."  HE DOES IT!  It is His work.  It does not fall totally on us to slavishly struggle to keep the high demands of a perfect law.

I am thankful that we serve a God who calls us to change and yet who also works in us to bring about that which He demands.  This is what it means to walk with God