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Surrender: Finding Freedom in JesusSample

Surrender: Finding Freedom in Jesus

DAY 3 OF 14

I Surrender All

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. (v. 1)

The congregation was enthusiastically singing I Surrender All. Then our pastor observed that if we were being honest, most of us would have to change the words a bit and sing “I surrender most” or even “I surrender some.” Unfortunately, he was right. God does not call us to surrender only part of ourselves to him. He calls for complete surrender.

Another way to look at this idea of full surrender is through Paul’s words in the passage we read today. The term “living sacrifice” is a powerful appeal and somewhat of an ominous expression at first glance. As Nancy Leigh DeMoss explains, though, it simply means to offer our bodies as a “complete presentation of ourselves to God.” It means that we devote ourselves to him with all willingness.

This encompasses every aspect of our lives. It is rendering to God all that we are and all that we have. True surrender doesn’t just pick and choose those parts of ourselves that we feel like giving him. He wants all of us, not just a portion of our lives, not a small fragment of our time, not merely a fraction of our possessions.

Selective surrender isn’t real surrender. If you want to be a living sacrifice, you can’t say, “Lord, you can have my heart but not my head, my voice but not my hands and feet.” You can only say, “Lord, I surrender all.”

As you pray, ask God to help you offer yourself as a living sacrifice to him.

Scripture

Dan 2Dan 4

About this Plan

Surrender: Finding Freedom in Jesus

Is it possible to find freedom in surrender? That's just what Jesus taught—freedom comes through surrender to God. To be a follower of Jesus we have to surrender everything to him, but on the other side of surrender, Jesus offers us freedom—freedom from sin, but also freedom to live fully, with joy, in Christ. This 14-day devotional series guides you through Jesus's teaching on surrender.

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