Obedience or Surrender

"And this is how we may discern [daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand, and become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments)" (I John 2:3).

Many of us are familiar with a simplified, if you will, translation of this verse, but I personally love the Amplified because of the nuances it includes.

I read this verse today for the first time. Not really for the first time. But, I truly believe I read it as it was intended for the first time.

I've always thought that these words implied that in order to prove our knowledge and love of God, we must make sure to keep His commandments. Basically, we are to learn and follow the rules, be obedient, so that we have evidence that we take our faith seriously and desire to please God.

Yet, I was struck so clearly today that this verse is actually an invitation to relationship and an encouragement that if we will put our relationship with God first, just as Christ did on earth, then we will certainly keep His commandments and thrill Him in the process. The above verse is kin to another very familiar one: "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides" (Matthew 6:33).

What are we to "seek, aim at and striver after"? What was Jesus' "way of doing and being right"? It was continual fellowship with His Father, from which He was guided to every step, directed in every word and lead in every deed. Indeed, every move that Jesus made was from His surrender to His Father. And because of His devotion to relationship, God also granted Him everything else.

David G. Benner concludes directly: "Those who surrender obey. But not all who obey surrender." And, I think that sums it up nicely. We must come to recognition that the "problem in trying to do what God asks is that it leaves the kingdom of self intact . . . The whole point of the kingdom of God is to overturn the kingdom of self."

We can spend our lives trying to check off requirements on a list, filling in bubbles on the "Christian" test sheet with a #2 pencil, tediously piecing together our spiritual resume with every "t" crossed and every "i" dotted.

We can live our lives with an eye on our eulogy. Imagining the glorious honors that will be recited about us and our great sacrifice for and commitment to the faith.

Or, we can devote our hearts to a tangible, experiential, personal encounter with the Lover God of our souls in a surrender that cares not what becomes of self but that all things draw us deeper into Him who is Perfect Love.

"Life lived with resolve and determination is life lived apart from surrender. It is living in clenched-fisted doggedness. It is living the illusion that I can be in control. It is the rule of life in the kingdom of self . . . Obedience that is the grudging fruit of willful determination" serves merely to "reinforce our egocentricity and make us more rigid and more proud" (Benner)

So, what is it going to be? I guarantee that if we surrender, though we will be surprised, we will not be disappointed. Though we will be imperfect, we will not fail. Though we will be weak, we will not be afraid. And in all things, we will have oil in our lamps to shine in a dark world, and we will utterly delight the heart of our Bridegroom both now and upon His return.

All to Jesus, I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me, Jesus, take me now

All to Jesus, I surrender

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine

Let me feel the Holy Spirit

Truly know that Thou art mine

All to Jesus, I surrender

Lord, I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me

All to Jesus I surrender

Now I feel the sacred flame

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

I surrender all

I surrender all

All to Thee, my blessed Savior

I surrender all