I am of an age where I remember the alternating altar call songs that were predominately popular – a few years back. One week it would be “Just As I Am” and the next it would be “I Surrender All”. I got to thinking about the word “surrender” which prompted me to review the words from this very old hymn.

All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior
I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now

All to Jesus, I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine

All to Jesus, I surrender
Lord, I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessing fall on me

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
O the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory, to His Name

I suggest that we should let these words wash over us anew; not just a repeating of words to a song repeatedly sung years back, but rather with an embracing of the commitment and joy that is being expressed. I confess that surrendering myself so completely might give me some initial apprehension; to freely give of all that I have, to forsake worldly pleasures. However, this is our call. Am I ready and willing to release the “things” in my life and even my mindset into His hands? As part of God’s family and members within our body, we will be asked to surrender things we might hold dear, as we together follow the Lord’s leading and strive to impact our community and world as an Ambassador for Christ. Am I willing to release, not just some financial resources, but also my preferred plans or way / view of ministry? Our finite minds sometimes struggle to grasp or comprehend the infinite given in exchange as we release or surrender. Have you now noted some of those exchange items; Belonging, Holy Spirit, Love, Power, Blessings and most significantly Salvation.

One of the Webster’s definitions of surrender is – to give oneself up, as into the power of another; to submit or yield. The day is coming when all will surrender, bend the knee and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Sadly, many will not bow in joy, but rather dread. I have already placed my life eternal into the hands of my Lord, and now my desire is that – “I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Thank you Jesus. Glory, Glory to Your Name!

Steven

As we read and study the book of Acts, there is a compelling and beautiful picture of the young church in chapter 4:32-35.

Their fellowship was pure. They had all things in common, and much grace was upon them all. Every member’s need was met, no-one claimed any of his possessions were his own. There was harmony and unity. I cannot think of a better illustration of biblical fellowship.

Notice however, the turn of events in the opening word of chapter 5. “But a certain man named Ananias…”. Suddenly with one small word, ‘But’, the purity is shattered, the harmony is broken, the unity is spoiled.

Often simple words like ‘but’ have a deep significance, not in and of themselves but in the context in which they are used. In the case of this word its significance is derived from the things which follow, as in Acts 5.These things which qualify the word are not always negative, as we might think.

In Deuteronomy 4 we have a good example; “There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deu 4:28-29)

Moses is warning against idolatry. He tells the people of Israel that idolatry will result in captivity, slavery and dispersion. The prospect of captivity is not good he tells them, “There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone…”. But if from there you seek the Lord…if you look for Him with all your heart”.

Moses is telling them that there is no circumstance so difficult, no failure so deep, no breach so wide that if they repent, God He will restore.

Consider Luke 9:61, “… I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Jesus believed that once the man was back amongst family his resolve to follow Jesus would wane.

In Jesus day ploughing had to be done during the harsh cold of winter, with the temptation to leave it to another day and shelter in the warmth of the house. Ploughing calls for endurance, and a constant focus ahead, not behind. By inference so does following Jesus.

What is the relevance for us?

What follows ‘but’ in your life? What stands in the way of following Jesus? This is the very thing we need to overcome. Some temptation, some habit, some indulgence, some relationship which has the effect of sapping our resolve and diminishing our faith, some area of our life marked ‘private’ where Christ is not welcome, something we dare not sacrifice for the King, at least not yet.

“ I will follow you Lord, but…” But what?

Click here to view notes on studying the Bible from Monty Waston.

by Monty Watson, senior pastor Monday, 1/30/2012