Like most pastors, I have several hundreds of dollars invested in exegetical tools that help me translate, interpret, understand, and (hopefully) communicate biblical truth. Most of the tools I use now are part of two or three programs available on my computer. I have ample storage on my bookshelves lining the walls of my office, but RAM storage on my Mac can be a challenge at times.
One of the unique facets of this software is the presence of many tools that are on the disk but not available to me until I pay an “unlock” fee. The tools are present, but I cannot access them until I pay for them. Some followers of Jesus discover and similar experience with their walk with the Lord.
Let me begin with one very important contrast, however: we pay NOTHING for salvation; it is a free gift of grace. I do not have to pay for any “unlocks” in my walk with the Lord, He makes them all available as I yield to Him. Yet, I hear believers from time to time speak of wanting “more of God,” and even praying that God would give them more of Himself. The good news is when you surrender your life to Jesus you have access to all of God. All of God is found in Jesus. (Colossians 1:19; 2:9)
What we need is not for us to get more of God – we have all of Him that is available. We need to GIVE GOD more of US. As we surrender more of our thoughts, desires, and will to God, He inturn reveals more of Himself to us. He allows us to experience more fully the fellowship He intends to have with us through our relationship with Jesus (Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21 as a few examples).
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart (Matthew 22:37). Notice the word “all.” To give Jesus part is to shortchange Him. The greatest expression of our love for Him is our unbridled surrender to Him. Notice also the words heart, soul, mind. Those three facets represent the totality of our being. We demonstrate our love to God by surrendering to Him all of every part of our lives – placing Jesus in the center of all that we do.
In surrender, we experience the full fellowship of God and the joy that fellowship affords. Jesus came that we might have an abundant life (John 10:10). All of God’s fullness is experienced in Jesus. We experience more of God when we surrender all to Christ.
Take some time today to inventory your surrender. Are their parts of your life you still try to control? Have you surrendered to Him your words, thoughts, emotions, and actions? Has your will been absorbed into His will? It’s not about you getting more of Him, it’s about Him getting more of you.