Surrender and Live.

“But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who have surrounded the city will live. You’ll lose everything - but not your life.” -Jeremiah 21:9

In reading scripture, it is both reassuring and alarming at how many times and ways, over and over again, we are reminded that Life comes from surrender, not achievement. Life in its fullest has nothing to do with bolstering self but instead, letting go, trusting God. And through this letting go, we are promised Life. A life no longer tethered to our limited frame but to a limitless, boundless God of love instead. What I find alarming about this is that this choice should be a no-brainer. Of course a star-breathing God would have better ideas than me - in every way, always. So why do we hold so tightly to ourselves? Fear? Vanity? Both? Neither? This is where I see His sacrifice so clearly though: He died so that we might live. Like a seed that falls to the ground dead, it can then multiply. A God of love put on flesh so that He could die so that His children might know Life - filling each of us with a new Spirit - His Spirit. A Spirit that trusts the Father’s Love. A Spirit free in the Father’s Love.

“This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.” - John 10:16-18

“You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25

Lord, thank you for a new Spirit so that we can believe. Help my unbelief. Teach us to Live! Amen.