"So I'll stand; with arms high and heart abandoned. In awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand; my soul Lord to you surrendered. All I am is yours."
Those are some pretty powerful lyrics. I love the idea of completely abandoning all things, my heart included, and selling out for God. Many talks/lessons/sermons focus on the idea of living for Christ in all areas of life. They teach us to invite our co-workers to church, have patience with our children, and love our spouses unconditionally. While this is great, I always feel there is a part of these talks this is missing.
People need motivation.
When I tell my students to do an assignment or take a test, they'll only do so if there is something in it for them. If there is not a grade associated with the assignment, I will have 5-10% of students finish it. If I tell a student not to swear in class, he/she will only do so because they do not want an administrator in their face. Students (like the rest of us) will only do something if there is a reason.
The rest of us are the same way. Think about it.. Would we go to work if it weren't for the paycheck? Would we pay the utilities if the threat of getting the water turned off wasn't there? Would we house-train the dog if we didn't mind pee-stained carpet? Would we recyle if we didn't care about the environment?
Would we abandon our hearts, lives, and personal agendas if...
If what? What is the reason the church teaches us to do this? Why surrender and sing "All I am is yours?" I think many Christians can give the Sunday School answer of "Jesus" when asked this question. BUT, DO WE REALLY GET IT? We abandon our hearts, lives, and personal agendas because he sacrificed so much for us. He stepped down from bliss into a crappy, selfish, sinful world. A world that would reject him as soon as they figured out who he really was. He knew the whole time that he would be nailed to two posts. How much must he want to be in relationship with us to do something like that?
HE LOVES us beyond anything we can fathom. Picture the closest, most helpless person in your life. For me, its my wife. Now, picture the most aweful thing that could ever happen to him/her. For me, its that she be brutally tortured, raped, and killed. Now, picture that person doing it willingly. Picture that person having to literally go and put his/herself in that situation.
Could you as the mother to your child, husband to your wife, or friend to your friend actually follow through with this? Could you send your most beloved into a situation like this, knowing what would happen? Could you imagine that person willingly doing it?
The answer to that question is NO. You couldn't. I wouldn't believe a person who says otherwise.
But, God and Jesus made those decisions. They decided to do it. And for what? To be in relationship with a bunch of beings who (for the most part) don't think of him except once or twice a year? Seems like a loser bet to me. HOWEVER, Jesus made that choice. For 33 years as a human, he carried through.
As a person who needs motivation, that is my motivation. I need it. I'm a worthless follower of Jesus otherwise. I still struggle. There are few parts of myself that I feel I've fully surrendered. Most of me only feels "partly" there. A clear understanding of the 'why' is crucial. I'm selfish, but I'm feeling more and more selfless all the time.
The only reason I try? Out of sheer gratitude and awe of what HE sacrificed for me. Its not much in comparison, but I'm going to offer all I can for him. I'm getting there, with the help of God all the time.
Are you?
