Surrender to Jesus Christ

Surrender to Jesus Christ
… a new beginning! 
Terry R. Baughman

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23–24).

Surrender is not a word or an action that we readily embrace. To us surrender is a sign of weakness and submission is viewed as defeat. More often we seek to maintain an attitude of self-determination and self-promotion ruling our responses in any given situation. We rally behind the mantra, “Never give up, never give up, never give up!"

The act of surrender runs contrary to our selfish interest. It means that we will yield our rights into the hand of another, giving them the authority to make decisions in our behalf but not necessarily with our best interest at heart.

In the Scripture we are introduced to a new concept of surrender. It is the same action of yielding our rights to another, but it is different in that we also yield responsibility for our lives into the hands of one who knows much more about everything involved in our decisions. When we surrender to God there is confidence in knowing that He only will do what is best for us and He has our best interest in mind for every situation.

The call to discipleship is an invitation to surrender our selfish-ambition, selfish-desires, and self-interest. This call is to a more fulfilled life of submission and surrender to God’s design and plan. Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:24). Only in Him can we truly find life and find it to be abundant and fulfilling. Through surrender we find success. Through submission we find accomplishment. 

As we surrender our rights to God, we find the joyous release of responsibility and the peaceful release of trusting in another. Much like children who rely on their parents to provide for their needs and assure their security, we find the same when we are at rest in Christ. Jesus appealed to His hearers, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

Our decision for discipleship is made daily. In our text, Luke inserts the crucial word daily. This singular word indicates our discipleship was not a solitary decision on a distant day, but rather a continuing resolution and a repeated submission, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Every day we must take up the cross again. Every day a new decision is required to surrender in discipleship. Every day we deny ourselves and confirm His instruction as we pursue God’s purpose and plan in our lives. 

Learn the joy of surrender and the peace of submission at the feet of Jesus. Embrace the cross and follow His footprints to find the ultimate fulfillment. Join Paul’s pursuit, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10).

Make the ultimate commitment. Surrender to Jesus Christ!

Scripture:
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4 NIV).

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