"Winners never quit and quitters never win." is a great saying for sports and perhaps for other endeavors. But it is not so good for the Christian life. No, we shouldn't be quitters and we should certainly desire to be winners. But it seems the way to victory in the Christian life is to "Give up and Win."
Andrew Murray wrote in his book Absolute Surrender:
“...but in Scotland once I was in a company where we were talking about the condition of Christ’s Church, and what the great need of the Church and of believers is; and there was in our company a godly worker who has much to do in training workers, and I asked him what he would say was the great need of the Church, and the message that ought to be preached. He answered very quietly and simply and determinedly: “Absolute surrender to God is the one thing.”
As I thought and prayed about a message on the surrendered life I was led to three areas of surrender. We should surrender our lives to the Lord's Will, His Way and His Word.
Scripture makes it clear that Jesus' passion was to do the will of the Father (John 4:34, 6:38). I find it amazing to think about Jesus saying "the Son can do nothing of his own accord," (John 5:19). What? The Son of God can do NOTHING of His own... what's that all about. It is about Him doing "only what He sees the Father doing." (John 5:19). It is about Him living out the statement: "I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me." (John 5:30). Jesus was all about doing the will of the Father and that is also what we should be doing. May we surrender to the Father's will.
What does it mean to be surrendered to His Way? Well, His way is the best way. It is not a burden; it is a blessing. It is not a path of greater diligence but of total dependence. He has not called us to try harder but to trust Him. The way to victory for a Christian is not about struggle; but about surrender. This truth is beautifully illustrated in Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches in John 15. It would be worth your time to read that chapter on your own. Notice how many times Jesus uses the word "abide." The branch is fruitful as it ABIDES in the vine. As we abide in Jesus we too will be fruitful. His way of victory for you is for you to abide in Him. Surrender to His way and you will bear "much fruit."
It would seem obvious that we are to surrender our lives to His Word. But as you look around you wonder how many order their lives according to the clear teaching of God's Word. I was blessed as I read and made some important connections from the life of Peter in the Gospels and in the book of Acts. You see, Peter learned the importance of total surrender to the very words of Jesus. He first encountered this truth when Jesus called him to be his disciple. Jesus had borrowed Peter's boat as a platform for His teaching. After he had finished speaking He told Peter to "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4). Peter explained that they, the experienced fisherman, had been at it all night and had caught nothing. Then he made a life changing statement: "But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:4). Peter surrendered to Jesus' word and the catch of fish was HUGE, net breaking, boat filling, about to sink with so many fish; SIMPLY because Peter submitted to Christ's word. What about you? What is it in your life that you need to say: "But at your word I will...."? I am pretty sure you can fill in the blank with what you KNOW Jesus wants you to do according to His Word. Your experience and your thoughts may say "No, I know better. I have been at this a long time and it just doesn't work that way." Really? You think your way is better than His. Fine you can go home empty handed, like Peter and his fishing buddies were BEFORE they responded to Jesus' Word. OR you can say "At your word I will...." and experience the BLESSING of a surrendered life. Peter was once again reminded of this great lesson in John 21:4-8. I will leave it up to you to read and review that story. The point is that the way to victory is to surrender to His Word. What's keeping you from doing just that? Is it worth the struggle and the emptiness that comes from doing it YOUR way?
Why not decide right now that you will surrender to His Will, His Way and His Word? When you do you will know what it means to live the victorious Christian life!
Check back tomorrow for a powerful reminder of where the will of God will never take you.
Learning the importance of Surrender,
Pastor Mike
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