Surrender

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live ... you and your house shall live." ... And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid ... lest they deliver me into their hand, and they abuse me." But Jeremiah said, "... Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you ..."
~ Jeremiah 38:17,19-20 (NKJV)

But the Chaldean army ... captured him ... Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes ... Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.
~ Jeremiah 39:5-7 (NKJV)

Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid..." So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
~ Luke 5:10-11 (NKJV)

We fear the word "surrender," for it means to give control over to another.

Jeremiah pleaded with King Zedekiah to surrender to the Chaldeans, and therefore to the Lord's will, so that he and his children would live—"so it shall be well." Zedekiah named his fear, that he would be abused. Fear prevented his surrender and obedience to God. He not only lost the preservation of his sons' lives, but his worst fear came to pass as well.

We are little different. The Lord asks us to surrender to Him—surrender all we have, surrender all we do, surrender all we are. We fear what it might cost us. We forget that we stand to preserve or even gain far more.

How foolish that we hesitate to surrender, in fear that we will lose control over what the Lord asks of us, when we in fact hold so little (if any) control at all. Each surrender relinquishes little more than an illusion of control, yet acquires spiritual life in ever greater measure.

Beloved Lord and Master, there is no greater blessing than what comes in surrender of ourselves to You. Your love and goodness are too great to justify any fear. Please move our hearts to yield to Your touch upon our lives and receive You and Your life in ever greater measure.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.