The Power Of The Surrendered Life

Published by Joshua Bontrager on August 27, 2019August 27, 2019

In the twentieth century, Mahatma Ghandi led the Crown Jewel of the British Empire, India, to independence. His philosophy of non-violent resistance was inspired in part by Christ, as Ghandi stated, “The example of Jesus suffering is a factor in the composition of my undying faith in non-violence which rules all my actions, worldly and temporal.” 

Nonetheless, Gandi rejected Christ for who He was, stating, “Jesus, to me, is a great world teacher among others,” and “I do not accept the orthodox teaching that Jesus was or is God incarnate… or that he was or is the only Son of God.” Essentially, Ghandi picked out his favorite parts of Christ’s life and teachings, while discarding those that didn’t fit with his personal preference. 

In subtler ways, modern Christians can be guilty of the same approach, cherry-picking their favorite sections of scripture to live, yet not fully surrendering to Christ. 

Christ the Son of God both taught and lived a surrendered life, remarkably stating, “I can of mine own self do nothing” (John 5:30). Though He was fully God, He relied fully on the Father. 

If the Son of God did so, how much more should we? May we consider and follow His example. 

His Daily Direction Came From His Father

Christ didn’t come with His own agenda. Rather, He looked daily to the Father, laboring earnestly in prayer. Mark 1:35 records, “And in the morning, rising a great while before the day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” 

Jesus worked wherever the Father was working, saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do, for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). 

Like Christ, we too must seek our direction from the Father, through His Word and prayer, humbly acknowledging, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

The Source of His Power Was His Father

Before beginning His earthly ministry, Christ fasted in the wilderness for forty days, returning “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). Throughout his ministry, He worked in the authority and power of His Father.

Christ commands us as He commanded His disciples in John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

His Grand Mission Was Not His Own

Christ’s mission was never about Himself. He was simply the means to accomplishing the Father’s purpose of redemption. 

Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Recognizing this truth, Christ cried out, “Father, glorify thy name” (John 12:28). 

You have been created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7) and “bought with a price” (I Corinthians 6:20). Living out this purpose requires nothing less than hearty, unquestioning obedience. 

Omnipotent, almighty God has a plan for your life far greater than you could craft on your own. Will you surrender to Him? Or, like Ghandi, will you take what you like and toss away the rest?

Those who live fully surrendered to the truth will change the world. In contrast, those who try to adapt Christ to their preconceived and selfish notions will, in the end, find their lofty sandcastles washed away forever in the tide of eternity.

Question: What obstacles hinder us from living surrendered lives?