There is an old song often sung as an “invitation” during worship services. This is a call to action, a song expressing new or renewed commitment to Jesus, and inviting the congregation to join in. “I Surrender All” says that the singer is releasing their hold on their life, turning it over to Jesus for Him to use as He sees fit.
The songwriter, J. W. Van DeVenter (1855-1939), describes his personal circumstances that led to the writing of the song:
For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing.
Do I live that song myself? Sadly…not really, or at least not as often as I wish.
The Difficulty
It is amazingly difficult for me to say — and really mean it — that I will give up what I want, and do anything that Jesus asks instead. That kind of surrender requires complete trust that whatever He asks is always best. If He wants me to leave my current life that I love and move across the country (as a couple of my friends did at His direction a few years ago), then the life I find in my new home will be incredible. I know that. But, still, could I really leave?
I’ll make it simpler. If He wants me to spend an hour helping someone else, will I give up that time? (After all, I was planning to wash my hair then!) Or if He wants me to skip eating out at a restaurant for one meal, and use the money for something else, will I give up my favorite Italian dinner? Or even just delay it until next week? Maybe….
The Challenge
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:24-26
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:25-33
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So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
These are hard sayings, and pretty scary ones. Does Jesus really mean for every Christian to leave their home and family, sell all their possessions, and strike out into the wilds as missionaries? No, and Yes.
The Reality
No, not everyone is called to physically uproot their lives and transplant to another location, although some are. One of my best friends and her husband spent many happy, productive years as missionaries in another country. Our church has just ordained (affirmed and dedicated) a young man with a successful job and family who has been called to full-time ministry. His future plans are not yet decided, but they are pretty sure to be different from his current life. I expect that his family is a part of that calling, and will join him wherever Jesus takes him. Still, most Christians find their surrender to fall within their normal, everyday life.
Yes, every Christian is called to follow Jesus, wherever He may lead. That journey isn’t a one-and-done, though. It happens in thousands of smaller choices, one at a time. He may lead simply to start a friendly conversation while waiting in line, which turns into an opportunity to share the Gospel. He may lead to rearrange priorities, giving less energy to a recreational activity so as to leave margin for a service ministry.
And, yes, He may lead to something that causes conflict with friends and loved ones who disagree with their Christian’s calling. In those cases, difficult choices may need to be made…and Jesus must be chosen over everything and everyone else. He promises that the pain of anything given up will be more than compensated, however.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:27-30
The Process
The dramatic “surrenders” get our attention. We wonder (at least, I do) whether we have the faith and strength to do something very difficult because we love and trust Jesus and are committed to following Him. But we don’t have to start by taking a vow of poverty and beginning a mission in a foreign country. We can start with baby steps.
We can live a life of surrender every day. We can start the morning by asking what God would have us do with this day. We can check in at mid-day to see if we are on track. We can evaluate at the end of the day, and ask forgiveness if needed, plus for the Spirit’s power to follow more closely tomorrow.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Romans 12:1
The Reward
Little by little, the incremental growth will happen. We’ll learn the joy that comes from being in sync with our God, and we will want more and more of it.
Then we’ll find that moments when we can honestly say “I surrender all” will become more and more frequent!
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.(Chorus)
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow.
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Fill me, Jesus, fill me now.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,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.