A life like Jesus, a life on the altar, a living sacrifice; It’s hard and so not what we are taught or grow up around, and definitely not what the world tells us to do. Oh but how worth it it is, how abundant life is when we remain in the Lord. I have been struggling to understand and describe what total surrender should look like or mean, and reading Acts 27 this morning has shown me exactly what it should look like. In Acts 27, Paul is on a ship with 276 people. The ship had just endured a massive storm and was in the process of sinking. In order to keep afloat, the men had to throw over all the grain they had and cut the ropes to the lifeboat. They had no idea when they would reach land, but they had word from God to not be afraid. That’s all. The word of God, and so they did all they could to stay afloat and remain in his promises. They threw out their food and broke off their ties with their only lifeboat, because they heard and trusted the word of God. Wow, Jesus let you people be a people of unbreakable hope and complete trust in you.
In order to run the race of this life with the Lord we must cut ties and throw out all that is drowning us and trust and dwell in his word and goodness, even when it seems insane to throw out your only physical food, or cut the ropes to your only way of escape. An abundant life is the one Jesus has for you, so we must be listening and be obedient. “In this way everyone reached land safely” Acts 27:44. To make it to our final destination and be able to say that I lived my life completely surrendered to the Spirit will be a bigger reward and satisfaction than anything that this temporary world could ever have to offer, because it is glorifying to the Lord. We must continue to seek the Lord’s voice and trust in him.
This is good, this is a relief. Lord thank you for giving me an abundant life where I have unexplainable hope and peace. Lord strengthen my faith and help my unbelief. For a life in you, is the only thing my soul truly desires. Jesus, continue to purify and refine me until the end of my life. You are all that is good in me and I want to love like you love more everyday. God revive and give sight to your people, show them what this life is for and where we find our sustainment and pride, only in you.
This life and world is nothing but a shipwreck, but all we can do is stay afloat by becoming more like Jesus everyday, which means living a life on the altar, for the Kingdom. This is where we will find full satisfaction and joy. Thank you Jesus! You are so good! God, keep your people afloat and joyful in the valleys and mountain tops. You are too good to not believe in your glorious power!!! Let me be a testament to this everyday!
