Wow… its been busy… Last Saturday I was called to Quincy to meet with a group that gathers on Saturday mornings at Elena Kroeger’s house for Bible study. I was glad to see that this group was growing in both number and maturity. One person surrendered their life to Christ, and another man rededicated his life back to Jesus… I taught them about how the Lord uses every situation in our life to help us grow… No matter whether we think our circumstances are positive or negative… Jesus is at work. The best way to live is in total surrender to Him.

This reminds me of the difference between commitment and surrender. I have heard many Christians talk about making a commitment to Christ, and living a committed Christian life. In fact these are terms that I have used myself. I don’t think that these words are wrong… but I do feel that they fall short of describing what He is really looking for. In fact if we live only in an "I’m Committed Zone…" we are in danger in living in legalism rather than grace.

When we make commitments… we do so by the power that we possess. Our decision or will is the basis of the commitment that we make. If we make the commitment, then we are in a sense still in charge, and therefore able to withdraw our commitment.

Jesus is looking more for surrender than commitment. When Japan surrendered after WWII they came aboard the USS Missouri and essentially signed a blank page… this was an unconditional surrender… there was no negotiations of terms.  Japan as a nation, would never again be the same.

Total surrender to God involves allowing Him the same kind of absolute control… Jesus demonstrated this kind of surrender when He cried out from the cross… "Into your hands I commit (surrender) my spirit…" this was a complete loss of personal control… He simply leaned back into the faithful arms of the Father. It is interesting to note that He did this even after crying out in those same moments…"My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?"  His trust of the Father was enough.

I have been in places personally where all that I could do… was to surrender to Him. I literally had done everything that I could do… and there was no way out. I learned that my greatest peace with God… came not out of my commitment to Him… but rather out of a total surrender to His will in my life… Even when He chose that I go through some immensely painful and lonely times. I am often reminded of these lessons learned when life does not go just as I had planned…. I am no longer in control…. HE IS!

When He is in control… Hope is never lost… No mater how bad things might look… there is hope… because there is God!  In fact I am convinced that He uses those tough times to help me grow. He never leaves or forsakes me… He is with me on the mountaintop, and in the valley of the shadow of death…. Hope in God…. Surrender to Him… He never ever fails!