Let’s cut to the chase! A surrendered life is an abundant life. A life that has been given up to Christ is full of the Holy Spirit because your heart has no room for you. A surrendered life voraciously consumes the Scriptures and plans all its decisions based on what it finds in there. A surrendered life has no pride, no arrogance, and no selfishness. It does not judge or gossip or blame. It belongs completely to Christ. And it is free.
Some don’t care. But you might say, how do I get there? We are given many different suggestions by all the pundits (the experts). But one thing I have seen that works for sure. Open your Bible to any place in the New Testament and begin reading. You won’t get very far before you find a scripture or passage that you know you are not following. Just do what it says.
You might think, “what an over-simplification?” However, when we complicate Scripture in our heads, we step off the path. Contrary to what we can be led to believe, the Bible was not written for the Theologians to interpret it all for us. It was written for the believer and the seeker and the sinner to grasp in its simplicity. When I say Theologian, I’m not talking about our pastors. They are there to protect us and guide us to green pastures. But they are also too busy working on the many burdens we have placed on them.
The Body of Christ should be the place where we can find surrendered lives. But in today’s world, too much effort is placed on the things we must get done today. Go to work, pay the bills, feed the kids, clean the house, mow the lawn, etc. etc. Our lives get crowded by the needs of the day-to-day requirements of the world. If you want to find a surrendered life, then you must look for it on your own.
Surrender is more than singing Judson Van DeVenter’s song, “I Surrender All.” However, it’s not a bad place to start. Jesus said it clearly in Luke 14: 33, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” According to those words, if I wish to be His disciple, then there is but one thing I can do, give Christ my all.
So, what is my all? Webster’s Dictionary has many definitions for the word all. But one that sounds perfect for our situation is completely used up, consumed, over with. Is my life over with? He gave His for me. Am I consumed with Christ? He was consumed with my salvation. When I get to the end of my life here, will it have been completely used up in surrender to Him?
Start by surrendering the first thing the Holy Spirit reveals to you through His word. Then the next and the next and the next. Trying to surrender all at once might be a little overwhelming. And intention is not the same as actually doing. Don’t intend, just do!
Amen?
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