In our world of higher education, instant
information networks and self-reliance, the message of the Gospel of Christ
makes no sense at all to most people.
The paradoxes and spiritual content of the Bible
serve as a stumbling stone to those too proud to accept the self-effacing offer
of salvation through Jesus Christ.
However, once we humble our self under the mighty
hand of God, we immediately recognize that Jesus completely submitted to death
on Calvary’s Cross to bring freeing redemption to us all.
We also surrender to the call of God to sacrifice
our life for Him in return. The surrendered life is not one of defeat, but of
relinquishing control. This means that we stop resisting the love of God and
accept His courtship.
We acknowledge His substitution in paying the
penalty of our sins and yield to His Lordship over our life. We recognize the
superiority of God’s plan for our life over our own goals and ambitions.
We consult Him about all of our decisions and submit
to His direction of our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6). We live in the reality of His
presence now and look forward to the hope of His glory to come (Colossians
1:27).
Many people waste so much of their life running
from God's beauty and bounty. They live in rebellion to the call, which even nature
makes for us to surrender to its Creator (Romans 1:20).
God never invades our life, but always waits to be
invited. The beauty of the surrendered life is that we die to the carnal flesh and
hide our life with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). We cease from our own labors
and enter into God’s rest (Hebrews 10:4).
Prayer:
Father God, once we completely understand Your love
for us, we go beyond obedience and also surrender our life entirely to You.
Then, we learn what it means to truly live in abundant freedom and victory
(Romans 6:16-18; Mark 8:35).
We no longer internalize the pain that life deals
out to us, because we are hidden with Christ in You. Regardless of trials and
anguish we may experience, we walk in spiritual serenity which elevates us
emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically and behaviorally. We find our
constant joy in You as patience does her perfecting work in us (James 1:4).
Thought for the Day:
We enter a life hidden with Christ in God, which we
formerly believed to be one of servitude, only to discover that it is actually
a liberating union as a King's kid. - Colossians 3:3-4
