Call to surrender

No matter where we are in our journey of following Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are all called to go to the next level of surrender. Here are two examples. The first is someone who is broken spiritually. The second is from a supposedly spiritual giant in the...

​No matter where we are in our journey of following Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are all called to go to the next level of surrender.

Here are two examples. The first is someone who is broken spiritually. The second is from a supposedly spiritual giant in the world of Christian leaders.

ROCK BOTTOM

Yesterday, I sat across from a guy I am helping to develop a relationship with God. He has been severely wounded by life’s events, including the kidnapping and murder of his father. For two hours, we went through all the greatest pain and suffering in his life. He had hit “rock bottom,” and for the last three months, has been slowly climbing out of the ashes of defeat. My advice to him: Answer the call to surrender to God.

ROCK TOP

The opposite extreme is a conversation with a senior pastor of a 4,000-member church, who had hit “rock top.” He had all the success any ministry leader could imagine, but he wanted more. As he allowed me to peer inside his soul, there was a huge disconnect from what he believed and the actions he was taking. He was in a similar state as my first example, albeit in the opposite direction. It amazed me that he needed to be told: Answer the call to surrender to God.

IN THE MIDDLE

Most leaders are in the middle of this equation, not at a place of “rock top” or “rock bottom.” How unfortunate for us. For it is in the pain and suffering that the call to surrender is heard the best. Why is that?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

The trumpets of Christ issue a daily call to surrender. As we start our day, before we go about our business, we must answer. The call to surrender happens the moment we open our eyes. Before you allow yourself time to get involved in living our lives, let us tithe time to Christ, answer the call, and spend time worshiping the reason you and I are here in the first place.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

I have heard it well said: “Either God is everything, or He is nothing.” If God is everything to us, how then should we start our day? The call to surrender summons us to a time of prayer, meditation, and reading of God’s Holy Scriptures. Let us answer that call every day, by spending quality time with Christ, the author, and perfecter of our faith.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” Matthew 16:24

CONCLUSION

As you reflect on these scriptures, let them resonate deep within you. Recognize that the journey of surrendering to God is continuous and ever-deepening. Whether at “rock bottom” or “rock top,” the key remains the same – a complete and total surrender to the will of God, seeking His face in all that we do.

Your aspiring servant,

Daniel M.

August 20, 2023

POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posts, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. Note: For ease of reference, all scriptures quoted are from the NIV.

If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.