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Surrender

February 20, 2012

Mark 8:34–39

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and
said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life
will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will
save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their
soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed
of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy
angels.”

Jesus has gathered the people around himself to tell them
about how to be a true follower, how to be in surrender to the calling on the
people. But what does it really look like to surrender? It’s easy to say that I
will surrender to God’s plan; I will surrender to what he wants for my life.
But those are just words, and what are words without actions to follow up with.
It appears that Jesus is laying out what a person would need to do to be
surrendered to God:

- Pick up your cross

- Lose your life for the gospel

- Don’t forfeit your soul for things of this world

- Don’t be ashamed of Jesus

I don’t think that surrender comes naturally. I think that
it is only a gift, or a strength given by God. At my core I know that my desires
are sinful and selfish; we are living in the “me” generation. But, regardless
of that, we are coming up against powers much stronger than ourselves saying
not to do it… what if I get hurt, what if I lose my security, what if I die! Exactly.
What if I die?

God, I pray that I would be surrendered to your calling, but
not by my power, but by yours alone. Would I be one who would gladly carry my
cross. Would I be one who would not seek after personal gain. Would I be one
who is not ashamed of my God, Jesus, and would I be one who would be willing to
lose my life for the sake of the gospel. I cannot do this alone. When I face
the circumstances in my life that I need to make the decision, would you strengthen
my faith and my love you for, that I may easily surrender to the calling you
have on my life. Thank you for the strength you have already provided, let me
use my gifting’s and blessings well. I love you.

Kelsey

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