Sunday I spoke about the need for surrender.
NOT CONFORMED…BUT TRANSFORMED
The more I study, the more I am convinced of something. You may disagree with me and that is, of course, your prerogative. 🙂 We hear a lot from people and yes, singers, telling us we need more of God. I have no qualms about craving God. He says, “Be still and know I am God.” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Desiring to know God should be a daily prayer on our lips.
But what if we have missed the boat on this? Now…please hear me out. Maybe it isn’t so much of us needing more of God. Maybe it is God having more of us. Could this be the emphasis of surrender? I think there is validity to that statement.
So here is my statement in a nutshell: I don’t think it is a matter of me having more of God. It is a matter of Him having more of me. {Note: perhaps they work in tandem?} No matter how you look at it, it involves surrender. It involves a willingness to give it all to Him-my life, my thoughts, my mind, my will. In short: not to be conformed but to be transformed. Or as J.B.Phillips put it in his paraphrase of the NT: “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.”
In this post I mentioned a song I was going to use before Sunday’s message. You can read about it there. But while riding my bike (inside) on Thursday morning I heard this song and was immediately struck by its meaning. I also “felt” like I ought to use it instead. So I did. Enjoy the song but please, please, pay attention to the words.
Hi Bill! I think you point out a great conundrum in the life of faith. Should we be the ‘reachers’, or allow instead God to reach for us?
I thought of the Song of Songs, a whole chapter that helps us understand how precious we are to the Lord, and how much he wants to be with us. And then think of the Psalms, where David is panting like a deer, looking for a stream. No wonder we are a little confused!
The answer just might be grace. We can’t long for the Lord without it. We can’t get grace without the Lord.
I bet your words were powerful ones to your congregation. I wish I was there to hear them.
Ceil
You make a good point Ceil. The answer is grace-first, foremost and final. Thanks for your words of encouragement.
If we say we want more of God are we not saying that God is holding something of himself back? Does the scripture support that when it continually points to him holding nothing back, including his only son?
I think you’re absolutely right. He is willing to give all. The question is whether we are prepared to give all to receive what he is generously offering.
You make a good point about God holding something back. Interesting thought you give. I presented it to the folks as God gave all; we now need to surrender.
I tend to look at it this way: when I reach for God, I always fall short… but when God reaches for me, He’s got me!
Right on Bill!
That’s a good point to make Ed. It is easy to forget that.
Yes, these work in tandem. Agreed! All that He is is available and waiting for us to embrace.
And patiently, He waits. His arms are open wide …
Patiently He waits. Yes. Good thing.
Just as we should never allow communion to become habit, common place, too familiar, etc but should make every effort for every partaking of communion to be fresh and alive with Him… Each day, each moment that it’s called to our attention, it seems should be fresh surrender, like a restart of giving ourselves to Him that is almost a daily reboot or at least a refresh of relationship. Maybe even several times per day. (Sorry about the long, complicated sentence)
@ Ceil, I love your reaching analogy and it leads me to picture the Sistine Chapel, God and Adam reaching out to each other. Bill, maybe that was Michelangelo’s art-blog as he pondered a similar thought. When two are separated by a chasm, I reckon it’s best if the reaching be done in both directions (“note: perhaps they work in tandem”) in order to best bridge the divide.
I do see each new day as a reboot of sorts. Another day. Another chance to live for the Father.
I’m voting with the tandem crowd, Bill. I think we do need to surrender our all to God, and expectantly “lift up our hands” to Him, knowing His loving presence is reaching back to us.
Blessings!
I see that hand! LOL I’m not sure I know the answer Martha. Hmmm how’s that for skirting the issue? 🙂
Well said, Bill. Surrendering our flesh to Him is the key to to peace in this crazy world. I need the reminder.