We all deal with seasons in life when all the options are
difficult, don’t we? We ask, “Am I up to this?” Or, perhaps, “Do I even want to
do this?” Those kinds of situations are even harder when we get conflicting
advice about the best course of action. There is one choice that Christ’s disciples always know to be the right one –
doing things His way! Whatever decisions we make, the state of the
heart is critical. We must ask ourselves
– “Am I prepared to let Christ Jesus be Lord, to trust Him?” Or, do we live like a child whose rebellious
heart screams “You’re not the boss of me.”?
In Luke 7, Jesus commended a man for something that we all
need to note. "So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the
centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do
not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider
myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with
soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’
and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus
heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he
said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the
men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well." (Luke
7:6-10, NIV)
That man revealed his faith in submission! He understood authority so whatever was required
of him by the government of Rome was what he must do. Amazingly, He realized that was the way that
the Kingdom of Heaven operated as well. Recognizing
Jesus’ authority, he gained great faith. He expected that Jesus could just
speak the order and that the healing he requested for his servant would happen.
Might it be that one of the reasons we do not experience the
peace of God in the middle of life’s frustrating circumstances is our unwilling
to completely submit ourselves to Him?
Do we fail to live under
authority? When we feel trapped by hard things, do we go to the Lord, but
only with a half-committed heart or with a kind of resignation? This centurion shows us that it is possible to embrace His Will, to find joy in
saying “You lead, I’ll follow!”
It is natural to what to live life on or own terms. We like
it when others do what we desire, when our children obey us, when our spouse adapts
to our plans, don’t we? True spiritual
peace can only be found when we love the Lord so completely that we will give
up Self. We will not find serenity in
our situations as long as we insist on having our way and demanding that God
care for us at the same time. Understand
this. Most of us are not wanting to do
some terrible thing. It’s not like we
want to kill somebody or rob a bank. Self-will is much more subtle than
that. It says, “I want my way. I want
things to flow in my direction. God, make me happy and satisfy my needs.”
Instead, we must say, "I am a person under authority." In that place of submission we can discover a
supernatural peace, one only possible in complete surrender. In my Christian
life, I have found that most of the time in the situations that frustrate me,
the one who changes is me! The Lord usually does not step in to miraculously
make it all better. Instead, He creates contentment and peace in me.
Are you ‘boxed in’ by life this morning?
Are you angry, frustrated, perhaps even ready to walk away
from it all?
Do this first!
Kneel! Hold out your hands in the universal gesture of surrender,
and invite Him to be Lord of your heart.
Make this confession: “You are Lord, I am not.”
And, listen.
When the heart and mind is no longer in a rebellious state,
when He is Lord and Master, possibilities are created that are beyond our
ability to create for ourselves.
Here is a word from the Word. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-7, NIV)
"Now unto him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians
3:20-21, KJV)
_________
I will offer up my
life in spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of
love, as my worship to You.
In surrender I must
give my ev'ry part;
Lord, receive the
sacrifice of a broken heart.
Jesus, what can I
give, What can I bring
To so faithful a
friend, To so loving a King?
Savior, what can be
said, What can be sung,
As a praise of Your
name for the things You have done?
Oh, my words could not
tell, Not even in part,
Of the debt of love
that is owed by this thankful heart.
You deserve my every
breath
for You've paid the
great cost.
Giving up Your life to
death,
Even death on a cross.
You took all my shame
away,
There defeated my sin,
Opened up the gates of
heaven,
And have beckoned me
in.
I Will Offer Up My Life -- Redman, Matt
© 1994 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian
Music Publishing)
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