No. 346 - Our Acceptance Involves Surrender

Responding to God's Gift of Salvation

Our Acceptance Involves Surrender

Matthew 16:24

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

Starting Prayer 

Dear Lord, as I meditate on what it means to follow You, please give me the wisdom to understand the depth of surrender that You ask of me. Help me to fully accept Your will in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Background 

Matthew 16 is a significant chapter in the Gospel, where Jesus reveals key truths about His mission and what it means to follow Him. In this chapter, Jesus predicts His suffering and death, teaching His disciples about the cost of discipleship. Matthew 16:24 focuses on the call to deny oneself, take up one’s cross, and follow Jesus. This verse sets the tone for the week’s theme, emphasising that accepting God’s gift of salvation requires total surrender of our lives to Christ.

Be Encouraged 

Surrendering to Christ means giving up control and allowing Him to lead our lives. It’s not an easy decision, as it requires us to put Jesus above everything else, including our own desires and ambitions. Jesus made it clear that following Him means denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). This involves a willingness to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him, even if it means losing friends, family ties, or financial security. The apostle Paul understood this well when he said he had "suffered the loss of all things" to "win Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Surrender is not just a one-time decision; it’s a daily choice to follow Christ, no matter the cost.

When we fully surrender to Jesus, we find that what we gain is far greater than what we give up. Salvation is a priceless gift, and the eternal rewards of following Christ far outweigh any sacrifices we make in this life (Romans 8:18). Jesus encourages us to count the cost of discipleship, but He also assures us that the value of eternal life makes our part in salvation seem very small (Luke 14:25-33). The question we must ask ourselves is not how much we are giving up, but how much we are willing to surrender to the One who gave everything for us. True surrender to Jesus means trusting Him completely with our lives and following Him wherever He leads.

Application 

The call to surrender is a call to put Christ first in everything. As you reflect on today’s meditation, consider the areas of your life that you may be holding back from God. Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37). True discipleship requires that we love Jesus more than anything else. Take time today to recommit your life to Him, trusting that His plans for you are far better than anything you could imagine.

Invitation 

If you have not yet committed your life to Christ, I invite you to take that step today. Visit any nearby Church of Christ, where you can learn more about how to obey the gospel and surrender your life to Jesus. Through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of all past sins and your salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38), you can receive the gift of salvation. The Lord will add you to His church, where you can continue to grow in your faith and follow His commandments (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:47). Do not delay—accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour today and experience the peace and joy that come from living a life surrendered to Him. Share this message with your loved ones so they too can know the blessing of following Christ.

Concluding Prayer 

Father, I thank You for the gift of salvation and for the reminder that following Jesus means surrendering my all. Help me to trust in Your will and to follow You daily, even when it’s difficult. Thank You for the assurance that what I gain in Christ is far greater than anything I could lose. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

May the Lord bless your day.

 

Theodore J. Quist 

Evangelist 

Church of Christ 

Abokobi - Accra 

Ghana


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