Are You Sneaking a Disclaimer Inside Your Commitment Clause?
SEPTEMBER 23
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
I have a friend named Joseph T’son, a dear man who is like the “Billy Graham” of Romania. Joseph is a man of great faith. I’d been in Romania preaching crusades. One day as we were riding along together, I asked him his opinion of American Christians. Specifically, I asked, “Joseph, tell me about American Christianity.”
He answered, “No, Adrian, I’d rather not.”
“Joseph, I’m a big boy—tell me.”
“Well, Adrian, in America, the big word is commitment.”
“That’s good, isn’t it, Joseph?”
“No, not necessarily. When you make a commitment, you’re in control, but when you surrender, you’re no longer in control. The word ‘commitment’ didn’t even really come into vogue in the United States until about the 60s. It’s a very popular word today. People are telling God what they’re committed to: memorizing the Bible, tithing, soul-winning. But if a man pulled out a gun and said, ‘Stick ‘em up,’ you’d lift your hands. You wouldn’t start telling him what you’re committed to. You’d say, ‘What do you want me to do?’ You’d surrender.”
People like to be in control. We like to make commitments, but the true word is surrender. Jesus is Lord. Don’t say, “Lord, I’m committing myself to build a great church, to more Bible study, more this or that. Instead, say “I surrender. I am yours, Lord.”
Only when you lift your hands in ultimate surrender will you know the power of God at work in you. You will never, ever be over those things God wants under you until you get under those things God has set over you. Start with complete surrender. Study the Word of God. Surrender fully to the lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
You can also listen to Adrian Rogers at OnePlace.com.
Watch Adrian Rogers and Love Worth Finding Video Online.
