Freedom of Surrender
There seemed to be a theme regarding God’s influence in my articles last week. I enjoyed exploring the transformation we see in Peter, especially the reactions reviewed in Friday’s article, found here. I thought about this a few times over the weekend, especially Peter’s reaction. What did this revelation seem like to Peter? When did he just surrender to God’s influence?
At some point, we must realize our way doesn’t work and surrender our will to God. Our challenge here is with this “S” word weighing in heavily on most of us. Surrender. I know in many cases it is just an issue of semantics, but what does this word mean for you?
The Merriam-Webster definition, is “to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)”. It also means to yield or relinquish something granted to you, which could be something given to us, earned by us, or even our lives.
When believers hear the talk in the church about leading a surrendered life, I have to wonder what many think or consider this means. I am sure we will gladly surrender an hour or two on Sunday, and of course we will tithe a little bit with our surrendered check in the offering, but is this all we must do to qualify as living a surrendered life? When we pull away the religious talk or what I have been calling “Christianese” (not my word by the way, but it fits so well), what are we really talking about in living a surrendered life?
Actually, I’m thinking it is a total extreme makeover of our attitude and approach in life. When we look at the differences in Peter standing before the high priest to when he denied Jesus, don’t we see a total extreme makeover in Peter’s attitude and approach in life? At that point in time, I think it is safe to say he had assumed the first definition provided by Merriam-Webster in that he was “given over to God as his influence”.
And why shouldn’t he? Peter was following the example set by Jesus. We find Jesus’ words in John 6:38:
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And Jesus also teaches in John 8:50:
I am not seeking glory for myself…
Jesus was not out for His own motivation or for His agenda, other than that which He had already accepted from His Father. He explains this in John 8:28-29:
“…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me… …for I always do what pleases him.”
Jesus’ life of surrender to His Father’s will and mission is an example for our own lives, a way of life much different than society would accept. I know you might be thinking, “Jesus was God made flesh. He surrendered His life before He even came to earth.” But this thinking would mean Jesus didn’t have a choice in the matter. For Him to be an example for us to follow, we must recognize He had to have similar choices we have in life, that it was possible for Him to say no, and that He made the decision to surrender to His Father’s influence. The surrendered life is not imposed on anyone, including Jesus.
Jesus confirms these conditions in John 10:17-18:
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
Here we can know our freedom is confirmed. Our Heavenly Father has given all of us the same right or freedom to choose a surrendered life. The decision is our decision to make.
A couple of months ago, I pointed a friend toward the Lord by suggesting prayer. I was emphatically told that she makes all the decisions in her life, not God. I believe she was absolutely right.
If we look at the absolute truth, we find the simple fact is we can have as much of Christ as we want and go as deep in our relationship as we choose, for he tells us there is no limit in Romans 8:38-39, or we can choose to remain our own influence throughout life. When I see Peter’s boldness and transformation, and when I read the promises the Lord holds for me, my decision is clear to me, but I know others do not see it in the same way.
What holds you back? Let me know through my new comment options below. If it doesn’t work, email me at glenn@sasscer.com or comment on my Facebook page – there will be a FB post with this link for you to comment.
Glenn Sasscer
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