I Surrender All

"However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." 1 Peter 4:16

Yesterday I was reading a book where the author had been ministering in China. As he was leaving, the couple he had been staying with told him they would pray for him. When asked what they would pray for they said "We are praying...for the church in America to get more persecution. You see, we see you as rather weak."

I read this and I think to myself, "Aren't I going through enough persecution?" And while my hope is that no Christian would have to go through persecution, God knows better. God knows that's how we most often grow and learn. We are promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear, and when we are tempted God will provide a way out. And isn't persecution temptation? Temptation to renounce God as sovereign in our lives, temptation to say that God isn't really as important as we've made Him out to be. I want to take a page from the persecuted Church, not really a page, but a lifestyle choice...Daily people are willing to give up their life for the sake of Christ. And I don't mean a lifestyle, like going to Starbucks in the morning or driving a nice car, or belonging to a country club, I'm talking about their LIFE. If giving up my right foot is what it takes for me to step up and really start living for Christ, then I will do it.

If I want to live out what I believe, I should be willing to give up anything for the sake of Christ and forwarding His gospel.

Yesterday, I downloaded a new album (don't worry, it was legal, from iTunes) of hymns, I love hymns, I love worship songs too, but I have a special place in my heart for hymns I am often amazed as the spiritual truths that are imparted in those few verses. As you can tell by the title of this post the one that really stuck out to me today is the hymn "I Surrender All." I encourage you to listen to it, I'll provide the lyrics, if you want to listen to the same version as I am, look for Jadon Lavik's album "Roots Run Deep"

Here are the lyrics...

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 blessed 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;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I pray you make that hymn true in your life today, as I pray I make it true in mine.