Surrender
Good Morning,
Thinking of our daily lives, I am reminded of how rarely we think of the word surrender. I want to do God’s will, of course, but to sacrifice my body is not really included when I pray, “Lead me, Lord.”
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
vs. 2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
We know this verse and often use it, preach it, and memorize it, but who really means it? Our Lord certainly did.
Hebrews 10:5 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”
Jesus knew He was coming into the world to suffer great humiliation and to die; as the song goes, “Born to die on mount Calvary.”
As we continue to read in Romans 12, we find the qualifications God has in mind when He refers to surrendering our bodies as a living sacrifice:
vs. 3 “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…”
We can think that we deserve better, we are good, and we deserve some high honor and blessing, yet we are sinners who deserve Hell. We may think it unfair that we are hurting while another is well or that our children struggle while others have an easier life. Paul continues on the subject of sacrifice...
vs. 4 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”
vs. 5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
We are all a part of the work of God, yet we are not the same; and as such, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice for the cause God has uniquely designed us to fulfill. Too often, we want what another has; we want to do what another does, whether it be singing, playing, performing, etc. We all have different gifts, and we are to surrender to that gift and use it as God desires. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TO SURRENDER TO DO.
Continuing in Romans 12, God points out various gifts:
Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”
vs. 7 “Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”
vs. 8 “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Some people are gifted with the ability to “show mercy.” Mercy does not seem like a glorious gift unless you are the one hurting and needing encouragement —then that gift becomes very important. Some people are gifted to minister to others, and that is also a gift from God. We are not all good at everything. Relax, we are good at what God designed us to be and do.
Many young men would like to have a job in which they are in the limelight, but such is not the will of God. We are to surrender to whatever the will of God is and to use whatever gifts God has endowed to us. This is the surrender God speaks of in verses 1-2.
In the verses that follow, other instructions that probably go along with being surrendered to the will of God are listed:
vs. 9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
vs. 10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
vs. 11 “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
vs. 12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
vs. 13 “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
vs. 14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
vs. 15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
vs. 16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
vs. 17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
vs. 18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
When we say to God, “Thy will be done,” we will often need to simply do little things correctly, with a good spirit, and perhaps work hard and do so without the accolades of men.
Pleasing God and living sacrificially may simply mean being kind to someone in need and doing so “under the radar.” In verse 18, we see that a sacrificial life may be simply striving to live peaceably with one who does not make the task easy.
To present our bodies a living sacrifice could mean to die on a foreign field as a martyr, but it could also mean to go to the rest home weekly and care for those in need.
It all pleases the Lord.
Pastor