Surrender...

So yeah, why does this devotional always say the right thing at the right time?

So, two weeks ago if you asked me I would have said I was teaching in Morocco next year. Yesterday if you asked me I would have said I was going home next year... and today well... well today I am going into the elevator. I decided instead of trying to figure out which "floor" or path of this life I am going to choose, I am going to stop running up and down the stairwell to see which door is open I am going to just walk into the Elevator and hang out with Jesus, and when He decides which floor to go to-- He'll let me know and I'll go. I've said I'm an all or nothing person before, and I was reminded by the Lord today that I have been putting my all into nothing lately-- I've been concerned about myself... my future... my plans... me... when in reality my only focus should be HIM!!! Oh, to be in love with Him more!

Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is "for My sake and the gospel’s" (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, "I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, "No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ " Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—"Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further" (see Luke 9:57-62 ). "Then," Jesus says, "you ’cannot be My disciple’ " (see Luke 14:26-33 ).

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.