Graduate 170: Five Reflections for the Church, Part 13
Surrender and repentance
Composed: 18 October 2009
One of my favorite moments from the first Focusing summit came toward the end when we were presented with the challenge to surrender. Tom drew a contrast between the 'cultural path' and the 'kingdom path' to renewal. When faced with formidable challenges and difficulties, those on the cultural path seek out information and understanding as a way of regaining control over whatever situation they are dealing with. And while this route may 'work' for a while, ultimately it ends in fatigue, frustration, and failure. Often it's at that point that people are finally driven to surrender--they call out to God for help and ask Him to take control of their situation. And it's at that point that God meets them--that God meets us--and begins to reveal and unfold His good plan.
Surrender is absolutely indispensable if we are to do the work of God. It's almost never easy, but the good fruit that comes from it is always worth the trouble. One woman illustrated this point beautifully when she shared about her own past struggles with the leadership and direction of her church. In a very transparent and heartfelt moment, she talked about how, for many years, she had backed away from involvement in her church because she did not agree with what the pastor was doing. After she realized that her attitude needed to change, she took the difficult step of going to the pastor and confessing her bad attitude and asking for forgiveness. Wow!
Confession is always an act of surrender. One of the main ways that we have of controlling our lives and other people is by never admitting that we're wrong. One of the main ways that Satan creates divisions within the church is by building up walls of unresolved resentment and hurt feelings between people. But something very powerful happens when we relinquish control of our lives and just stand honestly and openly before the truth: we discover that God really is standing with us. We discover that God really is our sure foundation. We discover that we really don't have to try to control our lives and other people after all.
It's hard to relinquish that control. It's hard to stand in front of someone and admit that you have wronged him or her. But if you never let go of that control, if you never take that step of surrender, then you will never know the joy of reconciliation. That's what that woman experienced: reconciliation--love, acceptance, and relationship. You can't have that if you're not willing to surrender. And when you find that, you'll understand that the trouble of surrendering was absolutely worth it.
Surrendering to God works the same way. It's not easy to relinquish control of our lives, of our church. In fact, we need to take seriously that it's one of the hardest things for people to do. But when we do, then God will meet us and begin to reveal and unfold His good plan for us. Believe me, it's better then anything that we could come up with on our own. Not only that, but abundant love, grace, mercy, joy, peace, and acceptance will also come to us as we grow in relationship with Him. Pray that we would learn to embrace surrender--in our relationships with God and with other people, in our church and in all of our lives.
"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it;
but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
Matthew 16:25
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Composed: 18 October 2009
One of my favorite moments from the first Focusing summit came toward the end when we were presented with the challenge to surrender. Tom drew a contrast between the 'cultural path' and the 'kingdom path' to renewal. When faced with formidable challenges and difficulties, those on the cultural path seek out information and understanding as a way of regaining control over whatever situation they are dealing with. And while this route may 'work' for a while, ultimately it ends in fatigue, frustration, and failure. Often it's at that point that people are finally driven to surrender--they call out to God for help and ask Him to take control of their situation. And it's at that point that God meets them--that God meets us--and begins to reveal and unfold His good plan.
Surrender is absolutely indispensable if we are to do the work of God. It's almost never easy, but the good fruit that comes from it is always worth the trouble. One woman illustrated this point beautifully when she shared about her own past struggles with the leadership and direction of her church. In a very transparent and heartfelt moment, she talked about how, for many years, she had backed away from involvement in her church because she did not agree with what the pastor was doing. After she realized that her attitude needed to change, she took the difficult step of going to the pastor and confessing her bad attitude and asking for forgiveness. Wow!
Confession is always an act of surrender. One of the main ways that we have of controlling our lives and other people is by never admitting that we're wrong. One of the main ways that Satan creates divisions within the church is by building up walls of unresolved resentment and hurt feelings between people. But something very powerful happens when we relinquish control of our lives and just stand honestly and openly before the truth: we discover that God really is standing with us. We discover that God really is our sure foundation. We discover that we really don't have to try to control our lives and other people after all.
It's hard to relinquish that control. It's hard to stand in front of someone and admit that you have wronged him or her. But if you never let go of that control, if you never take that step of surrender, then you will never know the joy of reconciliation. That's what that woman experienced: reconciliation--love, acceptance, and relationship. You can't have that if you're not willing to surrender. And when you find that, you'll understand that the trouble of surrendering was absolutely worth it.
Surrendering to God works the same way. It's not easy to relinquish control of our lives, of our church. In fact, we need to take seriously that it's one of the hardest things for people to do. But when we do, then God will meet us and begin to reveal and unfold His good plan for us. Believe me, it's better then anything that we could come up with on our own. Not only that, but abundant love, grace, mercy, joy, peace, and acceptance will also come to us as we grow in relationship with Him. Pray that we would learn to embrace surrender--in our relationships with God and with other people, in our church and in all of our lives.
"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it;
but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
Matthew 16:25
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 9:27 AM
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