It is an interesting fact that the word “surrender” is not found in the concordance. It leaves me wondering if good, or harm, comes from our use of it to seek someone’s commitment to Christ. I love the hymn, “I Surrender All.” It has led many to the feet of Jesus, yet I do wonder who I know that has truly surrendered all.

The man on the street finds it to be a barrier. He says, “All that I have is in this bag. If I leave it on the street to come into a church, it will be gone when I come back out.” Tell him all we will that a good meal and the chance for a new life are awaiting him on the inside, and it will do no good if you tell him to leave his bag and come in.

For those whose life is hard, you can be sure that “surrender everything” is not always the way to begin the life of Christ. If you live hand to mouth, you learn that it can be dangerous to trust. What if the invitation turns out to be empty? What if you gain nothing that was promised, and then come back to get your bag and find it gone? Then you have lost all. Don’t ask a person to surrender, but to bring his/her bag and “come as you are”. If they find that the invitation was honest, If they discover a new friend in Christ and a new family in the church, if a new life truly comes their way; they will let go of the bag soon enough.

I gave my life to Jesus as a child, and I’m still surrendering day by day. The life of faith is a continual letting go of something because God is offering a better thing. Some people can pay for a costly thing with one check. Most of us would have to make installments. My life for Christ is a daily installment, and a daily surrender. His gift to me is another day, and what I do with it is my gift back to Him.

“Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fighting and fears within without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”