I SURRENDER ALL

Scripture:  Romans 12:2 NASB - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  
     
It takes time to truly surrender ALL to Jesus.  Have you ever seriously pondered the depth of that statement? Today’s Scripture verse reminds me of the concept of world view.  One writer defined world view as the body of one’s values and beliefs with respect to their view of God, their view of mankind--as inherently good or inherently wicked-- and how those views taken together inform the vast array of their decisions on a multitude of other life issues.  That said, few people realize the great influence that their world view exerts over the entire spectrum of their lives! Unless we are conscious of the practice, we can find ourselves compartmentalizing the different areas of our lives, rather than thinking biblically!  Some us don one attitude and/or speech pattern for the workplace, another amongst our faith family, and still another around those with whom we live!  
   
We human beings—even professing Christians—are slow to willingly surrender some of our deeply ingrained (often carnal) personal opinions and views about people from other races, different political affiliations, or religious orientations.  (On the latter topic, I am excluding our embracing unscriptural belief systems or cult doctrines that deny Christ—we must ALWAYS reject false doctrine).  Unfortunately, throughout history, a disregard of the warning in 2 Tim. 2:23-25 has often resulted in many violent movements, leading to wars—sometimes, sadly, in the name of Christ! “Test the spirits, whether they are of God.” 1 Jn. 4:1
     
Although it may sound cliché, saints, our God really does love us far too much to leave us as we are!  He therefore commands us to yield our old fleshly attitudes and opinions up to Him and align our thinking with His own as presented in His word.  He commands us to resist the tide of antichristian worldly philosophies that may SOUND just, but offend our God’s holiness and await His inevitable full judgment. (Proverbs 14:34)

Prayer:  Dear Abba, please forgive us for being too eager to embrace the thought processes of the lost majority in our midst.  Help those of us who call You ‘Lord’ to let every word of Yours be true and that of mere secularly-minded folks be a lie.  In Christ’s name—Amen!

(by Denise Diggs)