Roman’s 14:7-8 NIV
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Why are we humans so opposed to the terms, submit, surrender and obey? As if they are ghastly horrible verbs! They are not! We all belong to God. He is even gracious enough to give us free will choice.

        How’s it working out for you?

If you are NOT living your life fully for God…how’s that going? Do you think it is any easier? Maybe on the surface, you are enjoying the flesh. Money, possessions,  pleasures of the flesh ( aka, self gratification by means of sex or substances) . Are these things sustainable forever? Do you know what is?

2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

GOD…..through your surrender, acceptance and belief in Jesus!

Do we not surrender, give into or follow something?  YES!  We follow money…we follow that next big promotion…we follow the high of pleasuring our flesh….we follow ( seek ) recognition or power. None of which is sustainable,  it DOES NOT last!! Thats why we keep going, repeating the cycle, because we cannot get enough. We are never satisfied and still feel empty inside.. feel void.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NIV

Once you do this, God floods you with his Spirit, with His love, with His plan. He gives you your true direction. All of THAT…is so fulfilling!  It is sustainable….It is everlasting…

Roman’s 6:16-18 NIV
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Roman’s 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Yes ! It is pleasing! But it is not a one time deal…just like you work to have that money, that recognition, that promotion. You also work at your new life, but the rewards and benefits are so much better!

                 The work…. and why…..

Luke 13:22-30 NIV
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’  “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’   “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’   “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’   “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

                          Serving……..

Luke 14:12-14
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,  and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

                     Repentance………

Luke 18:10-14 NIV
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’   “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’   “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

        Be like children…..His children

Luke 18:16:17
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Will you give up your free will? Will you trust and solely depend on God to guide you?

Colleen Moore
Works Inspired in Faith