Christian authors and teachers can be helpful or hindrances to the Christian walk. As I see it, there are two extremes of thought with a vast cloud of uncertainty vacillating in the gulf that separates. The most dangerous and even deadly to the Christian faith is that school that teaches that self is something the believer needs help in nurturing or enriching; a need to find yourself for all the answers to your living a right life is in you. The drug culture of the late ‘60’s, used to encourage mind altering drugs so that you could discover who you truly are. Promoting oneself always seems to appeal to the masses. There are countless who teach along these faulty lines, though there may be one writer/preacher that seems to stand out in hazardous popularity, though this writer shall not endorse his name.
On the opposite shore of thought, which is widely taught among New Testament writers, is the teaching that self needs to die; be crucified with Christ, as though it were a disease that would weaken the Christian’s discipleship and sanctification. This comes to us indicating that we can and should choose this course of action.
The New Testament writers also use these words that follow the same course of action: submit, submission, surrender. In a world that has ever been plagued by war, surrender may be the word most disregarded as it appears that becoming prisoner is the resulting course of action. In the New Testament sense, in surrendering yourself to the Person of Jesus Christ, you soon discover all the needed answers are in Him alone. One who is crucified with Christ, self-surrendered to Him, discovers that as a prisoner to Christ he is most free; there truly is conquest that comes through this surrender . . . victory through surrender.
In John 3:30, when speaking of Jesus, John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
I love Paul’s striking words from Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
As you look back over 2023, was it a year of spiritual growth for you? Did you find yourself becoming a bit more like Jesus? Or was there some kind of spiritual breakdown? If so, now is a good time to make a change . . . make up your mind to get closer to Jesus! James 4:7, “Submit to God.” “Surrender.” “Die to self.” “Crucify self.” “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Look at the promise in James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!” The closer you get, the more you will be aware of His closeness!
It’s a win-win situation. Will you commit to making this a goal in your life in 2024? I pray that you will.
Oh, will you pray for me along those lines too? I want to get so close to Jesus that when I die and go to Heaven, the change in me won’t be such a shock! Happy New Year! Pray On!