Joyful Surrender
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:11-13
How is it that the Apostle Paul could make such a statement “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am”? How did he learn to be content? I believe the answer to these questions lies earlier in his letter to the church in Philippi.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:5-11
The apostle's desire was to become more like Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:10), and in his pursuit of becoming more like Christ, he determined to follow His Lord’s example. In the above passage we read that Jesus did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself. Jesus was completely surrendered to the Father’s perfect will because He was content (secure) in knowing that God’s will was perfect. Contentment is not some supernatural thing that comes over our lives; it is an attitude of the heart. Contentment comes when we have an attitude of joyful surrender to God and His will for our lives. The apostle Paul learned contentment by following his Lord’s example and so, too, must we, if we are to experience God’s supernatural strength in our lives.
When we are surrendered to God we discover His strength which enables us to stand, no matter what we are experiencing or where we are in life. To be joyfully surrendered means we demand nothing of God because we recognize that we have no rights of our own (Romans 9:20,21; 1Corinthians 6:12) and we are joyfully concurring with His Lordship over our lives. Instead of demanding, we accept His perfect will and plan for our lives. You see, if we go through life with clenched fist demanding our rights or complaining to God, there is no contentment because there is no surrender. However, if we go through life with an open hand before God giving thanks for His plan and accepting His will, we discover a peace and joy that is supernatural because we have learned to be content. If we declare that He is Lord (and He is whether we declare it or not), we should be joyfully surrendered to Him – He does know what is best for our lives.
O brethren in Christ, because you are in Christ, you are secure. Therefore, you should joyfully surrender to His plan for your life – only then will you be content. A Chinese believer who was imprisoned for his faith in Christ said this, “The Bible doesn’t guarantee that we will always live in freedom, so I learned to give up my right to freedom. I gave up my right to live with my family, too. And I gave up my right to earn my way and accumulate wealth. In fact, the only right I could find in the Bible was my right to be a child of God. That one I did not give up! When you have died to self, you discover a freedom no man can match.”
Again let me state that contentment comes when we are joyfully surrendered to His Lordship. To be surrendered means we acknowledge that we have no rights to demand for ourselves. It means we declare before the Lord, “Thank you Lord, for this situation in my life because you know what is best.” It means that we are willing to remain in the situation we are in for the rest of our lives, if it is God’s will.
To the single adult who desires to be married it means saying with complete surrender, “Lord, I am willing to be single for the rest of my life. My desire is to serve and glorify You, not myself.”
To the wife whose husband refuses to be the spiritual leader of the home it means saying with complete surrender, “Lord, thank you for my husband. Thank you that he is the best man that I could have. Thank you that I can be a testimony of Your grace and love to him. Even if he never changes I will serve and glorify You.”
To the child whose parents may seem demanding and unfair it means saying with complete surrender, “Lord, thank you for my parents. Even though I don’t like what they require of me I will submit to You by submitting to them and I will serve and glorify You.”
To the worker who has been passed up for a promotion it means saying with complete surrender, “Lord, thank you for this job. Thank you that You are teaching me humility. Even though my situation never changes I will serve and glorify You.”
To the person who is ill and the prognosis is unsure it means saying with complete surrender, “Lord, thank you for this sickness. Through this may I know You better by sharing in the power of Your resurrection and the fellowship of Your sufferings. Even if my illness never goes away I will serve and glorify You."
O Christian, God is more concerned about changing you than He is about changing your circumstances. It is through the circumstances of life that God conforms us into the image of His Son. He has promised to complete what He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). The question is - will you joyfully surrender to His perfect plan and thus be able to say with the apostle Paul, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”?
All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give;
I would ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
By God's Grace ~ Through God's Word ~ For God's Glory!
Chuck Long
©God’sGWG
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