Surrender
Hi Reader,
Welcome to this week’s special guest letter from my good friend Greg Sund.
Greg his wife Stephanie have been great friends of ours since we first landed in Africa 8 years ago – and I can say my life is better for having him in it.
Today – he is sharing the Something to: read | do | pray – but also a free copy of his book: The Journey to Surrender: Not Giving Up on Giving Up.
CLICK HERE for a free copy of the ebook
So….here’s Greg….
READ THIS
The vast majority of Americans think much too highly of themselves. (At least, this is true of me). It occurs to me that this may not be a popular statement. We are inundated daily with words of affirmation that encourage this thinking. “You deserve better,” “You are a good person,” “He is lucky to have you.” We hear it from our friends, our family, our co-workers, advertisements, and self-help books. We are told we’re basically good people, with a smattering of bad people thrown in the mix, but overall, we’re good.
Sadly, this cultural movement runs counter to what we as followers of Jesus Christ are called to. Surrender to God (or anyone else) is not possible without a posture of humility. Humility in scripture is a massively important theme. It is so important because without humility, we will never allow ourselves to be submitted to the “Lordship” of Jesus Christ. But it is also important because scripture exhorts us to this posture for a reason, and that reason is the humility of Jesus.
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he HUMBLED himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:3-8, emphasis added).
Jesus Christ took on a posture of humility to save you and me. He sacrificed in a deeply painful way, giving up His royal seat next to His Father in heaven, and assuming a seat on a dirt floor next to sinners and tax collectors. This should move us to a posture of humility. This should move us to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
DO THIS
Ask yourself if, in your area of work wherever that may be, is humility considered an asset or a liability?
When you honestly look into your heart, what specific areas of pride have taken root?
What do you remain proud of: your reputation, intelligence, ability to do your job, how well you parent, what a good friend / Christian / neighbor you are?
Spend a few moments asking God to show you where these pockets of pride may be hiding and ask Him how you should begin to deal with them.
PRAY THIS
Father, you have graciously taught us that we are to lay down our lives for the sake of others and for the sake of the Gospel.
And you have shown us the massive importance of humility in the life and death of Your Son Jesus.
Open the eyes of our hearts to see how pride may be corrupting us and distancing us from You and Your call upon our lives.
Help us to repent of these prideful tendencies and show us a better way, the way of Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.
Forgive us O Lord, and transform us to be more and more like Our Savior.
AMEN
Once again….CLICK HERE for a free ebook
…or if you’d like a paperback version – they’re on Amazon here.
Talk to you next Thursday!
~George
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