| Back | Contents | Next |
{The Application
Application for the Ungodly
Surrender and Deliver Yourselves Up to God in Christ}
“Yield yourselves to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 30:8). That is, as His servants, give up the rule and government of yourselves to Christ. “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13 NKJV). “To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey” (Romans 6:16 NKJV). Yield yourselves in such a manner to the Lord that you may henceforth be the Lord’s. “I am yours,” said the psalmist (Psalm 119:94). The hearts of those who yield themselves to sin and the world say, “Sin, I am yours; world, I am yours; riches, I am yours; pleasures, I am yours. But “I am yours,” said the psalmist, devoted to Your fear and dedicated to Your service. I am Yours; save me. Give yourselves to Christ, sinners, and be devoted to His fear.
And this giving of yourselves to Him must be of a kind that supposes that you are heartily232 contented:
That He appoints to you your work.
That He appoints to you your station in life.
232heartily: sincerely, willingly, with all the heart. But dear reader, it may be that your hearty willingness is mixed with some fear, doubt, or hope that Christ will not put you to difficult or painful circumstances or work. First, remember that the apostle Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 NASB). Second, it is OK to dislike pain, suffering, hardship, and toil. The question is whether, if Christ calls you to it, you will submit to Him and, without grumbling, complaining, displeasure at God Himself, or sinful discontent, obey Him who made it abundantly clear that He is, for all His chosen and redeemed sheep, “on your side” by suffering and dying on the Cross for you. It may also be that you sense some resistance or reluctance in your heart. But God’s grace will be sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9); we all already know how to choose to do unpleasant things because we know we must, and God will add His grace to that.
| Back | Contents | Next |