When the rich young ruler came to Jesus hoping to follow Him, he walked away disappointed because he was unwilling to give up his riches. Yet Jesus wasn’t asking only for his possessions; He was asking for him.
God still desires the same thing from us today. He doesn’t just want our finances, our talents, or our voices. He wants us. I love how Romans 12:1 describes surrender as our “reasonable service.” To me, that means giving ourselves to God is the most basic and natural expression of faith. It’s not extraordinary – it’s expected.
Many people trust Jesus but never fully make themselves available to be used by Him. Yet here on earth, we are the vessels God uses to accomplish His will. When Jesus came into the world as a baby, He used Mary, a woman who willingly obeyed God. In the same way, we are called to be God’s hands and feet. All He asks is that we surrender ourselves completely to Him.
This truth is beautifully expressed in the hymn I Surrender All:
“I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
When we present our bodies as living sacrifices, God has access to every part of our lives: our finances, our homes, our families, and our hearts. God wants our best, and the best we can offer is ourselves in wholehearted service to Jesus Christ. Jesus gave Himself fully when He died on the cross for the sins of the world. When we surrender our lives to God, the way we live should reflect that same spirit of surrender and sacrifice.
Just as nothing is too hard for the Lord, what He asks of us will ultimately align with His strength, even when it doesn’t make sense to others. What truly matters at the end of this life is the treasure we store up in heaven, where moths cannot destroy and thieves cannot steal. Only what we do for Christ will stand the test of time and endure into eternity.
So let us surrender ourselves fully to God and withhold nothing from our Creator. He made us and knows exactly what we are capable of. When Moses doubted his ability to speak before Pharaoh, God simply asked, “Who made your mouth?” (Exodus 4:11). The same God who created us equips us for His purpose.
Today, we must redeem the time, because the days are evil. As the world changes and Christian influence diminishes, it is more important than ever to become true disciples of Christ. When we surrender wholeheartedly, God shapes and molds us into who He has ordained us to be. His plans may not always match our own, but trusting Him is how we demonstrate that He is good. Even when the task is difficult, God’s plans are always good.
Surrendering to God is a lifelong process. We must die to ourselves daily and trust that His way is better, no matter the cost.
Let’s Pray:
Most Gracious Father,
What an awesome God You are, worthy of all praise. Help me to honor You in all I do, each day You grant me on this earth. I surrender myself to You as a living sacrifice and desire to be a true disciple, available for the Master’s use. You have been faithful to me day by day, not only saving me, but keeping me from falling away.
Thank You for Your promise that You will never leave nor forsake me and that You will be with me until the end of the age. Because of all You have done, I willingly present my body as a living sacrifice so that You may use me.
Lord, wherever You are moving—within my church, my community, or my family—help me to be an empty vessel fit for Your use. I yield my life in obedience to Your will, knowing I must renew this surrender daily because of my human limitations. I am grateful that in You I am made whole and reconciled to God the Father.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Christian Writer 