There is a charming wooden rocker in my childhood home. It belongs to my father. I associate that rocker with stories. In fact, it is difficult to imagine my dad sitting in the rocker unless he is reading out loud to whomever is around, whether it be a passage of the Bible or an intriguing James Herriot tale. Such story times were not consistently frequent, but they have left a vivid mark in my mind nonetheless. I guess sitting and listening to a plot unfold captivates a mind, especially when a comforting and familiar voice is delivering the details.
To me, the most marvelous stories are those of real-life folks. When I consider how numerous such journies have inspired me, I am compelled to contemplate my own life. How can my life unfold in such a way as to glorify God and motivate others? Could my life look like that of Corrie Ten Boom's or Jim Elliot's?
I am currently reading Andrew Murray's Absolute Surrender. In the first chapter, Murray urges us (as believers)to be fully surrendered to Christ, for by so doing, God is able to bless us immensely and use us completely. He goes on to describe what that surrender entails, emphasizing God's work even in the ability to surrender.
A surrendered life creates a rich story. Leo Tolstoy could spin a fine yarn. Jane Austen could pen an entrancing saga. But nobody can weave a story like Christ. In the lives of those who are truly yielded, the Holy Spirit carefully and purposefully orchestrates profound story lines, none of which are duplicates of another.
Surrender is something I have been grappling with the past few months. When I ponder the possible outcomes of complete surrender versus partial surrender, my heart cries for a total, broken posture before Christ. Yet, my sinful desires often vie for my attention. May I have the foresight to see what Christ could do through me if I would submit to Him alone!
Galations 2:20 states: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Dying to self implies absolute surrender. Lord, help me to live such a life! Please weave a story in me that glorifies You!
1 comment:
My reading of "Extreme Devotion" parallels what you're reading. Many of these people gave their health or their lives for their steadfast belief in Christ. It gets a little blurred in our comfortable USA lifestyles, doesn't it?
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