Written by Diana Gove
Last night I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. For a few hours, I spoke to the Lord and listened to Him as He spoke to me in the still quietness of the night hours. There was no sense of urgency to make it to my next class or to contact anyone. It was just me and the Lord. He convicted me of distractions that I’ve allowed in my life that keep me from being focused on Him. I was convicted as He reminded me that He wants a relationship with me!
As I poured out my heart to Him, relinquishing what I was holding on to, God reminded me of His love- true love- for me. The more I contemplated the love of Christ, the more I yearned to reciprocate it! I didn’t care that it was 4 a.m., I had to get up and write down what my Lord was teaching me- again.
What does love compel it’s possessor to do?
Surrender. Love compels surrender! When I saw the things standing between me and the Saviour, I was compelled to surrender those things to Him. At first I thought I was making a sacrifice, until the truth hit home! To give up what holds me back from Christ is not a sacrifice! It's a privilege! You see, I could refuse to let go, hold on, and let those things corrupt me from the inside out as I lived in the flesh, instead of the Spirit. But by surrendering those things, confessing my sin to God, I was renewed, made clean again, restored to fellowship with the Lord! That’s not a sacrifice…it’s a gift only to be had once my hands were emptied. Anything that separates me from my Lord and Saviour must be surrendered! How can I hold His hands if mine are full of other things?
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:2
Jesus Christ surrendered the comforts of Paradise so that He could be closer to us. He surrendered to His Father's will out of love for us.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Another thing that love compels it’s possessor to do is- sacrifice.
Love also compels sacrifice… But what can I sacrifice that is even worthy of Him? What is it that is not already due Him? Nothing! Of myself- nothing is worthy of Him and everything is due Him!
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20
But what does He want? What does God ask of me? He wants a living sacrifice! A sacrifice that is alive, active, and willingly given...
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
He wants my living-- how I live, what I think about and even daydream about, my desires, motivation, plans, goals, and yes…even my burdens, cares, inadequacies, faults, and weaknesses. The Lord Jesus Christ wants it all!
If I fail to let go of the things separating me from a pure relationship with the Lord, I won't be willing or able to sacrifice my living. Surrender and sacrifice go hand in hand.
Jesus was my Sacrifice. Oh, what a sacrifice! He paid my sin debt. His sacrifice is still working on my behalf. His death redeemed me, but "it's because He lives... I can face tomorrow." This Sacrifice wills us to God:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
My Jesus, I love Thee. I know Thou art mine. For thee all the follies of sin I resign. I thank thee for wearing the thorns upon thy brow...If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.
"We love him, because he first loved us." I John 4:19
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
2 comments:
wow Diana
God has been teaching me this exact thing!!!! I am not alone! We are not alone, no we are not alone for God is with us! Forever and ever! We are never alone! I love this song! I know now God is with me and others are there learning the same thing! I love you so much and am thankful for the friendship we share!
Jackie
Diana, Twas a blessing to be reading this article. Even us 'oldies' needed to be perked up! I'm reminded of a chorus I sang when I was young. It was called "Empty Hands". Once we empty our hands of the things we hold dear, God can fill them with the things He holds dear.
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