Day 15 - Living a Life of Surrender
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.
The word ‘surrender’ isn’t one that you often hear pop up in conversation unless you work in hostage negotiation or military settings (also known as parenthood some days). For many, the concept conjures up images of conflict, pain, injury, and white flags waved in defeat.
Thankfully, we are shown a different definition which is beautifully expressed in Romans 12. Here we see three key themes laid out with a powerful call to a lifestyle of surrender: living as a holy sacrifice to God; true servanthood; and love in action. These verses are meant to encourage yet also challenge us to know God and to trust in Him, His ways and even His timing - to live lives that are in complete and utter surrender to Him. The purpose? To become more and more like Him.
Talk about a tall order! Indeed, Paul depicts godly surrender as a clear-cut and full-body experience: firstly, of your body; secondly, of your mind, and thirdly, of your will. He makes it sound so simple and yet it can often be anything but.
There’s good news ahead though as we re-read Paul’s opening words: “God has shown you His mercy” (12:1). Why is this awesome news? Because His mercy stops us from getting what we really deserve. Amen for that! God is full of mercy towards us. Indeed, His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). They are constant, consistent, unreserved, and oh so undeserved.
Once we really grasp this, the question of how to live a life fully surrendered to Him changes from “how can we” to “how can we not” live a life of complete surrender?!
Horatio Spafford is a powerful example of one who truly lived a life of surrender.
He was a family man, successful lawyer, and wealthy investor. However, within a few short years that all changed. First, his young son died of scarlet fever. Next, most of his physical assets were lost in the Chicago fires of 1871. Finally, all four of his daughters drowned in a tragic accident while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on holidays with their mother.
As Horatio travelled to be with his wife following the incident, he was alerted by the captain of his ship that they were now sailing near the location where his daughters were lost. One would think he would be overtaken by grief, heartache, loss, anger, or confusion. But no, as Horatio reflected on his beloved children, his heart and mind were filled with the words of comfort and hope embodied in the now-famous hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”.
We will face challenges, endure some tragedies, and we may not always be able to declare that ‘all is well’ in each area of our lives. But, as we pursue a life completely surrendered to God, His will and His perfect timing for our every need, we can, with great confidence, echo Horatio’s declaration that in spite of our circumstances, it is well with our soul.
Challenge: Reflect
“Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude, but believers are not compared to bears, or lions, or other animals that wander alone;
But those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.” - Charles Spurgeon