Matthew 10:38-39 (NASB)
38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

I was reading a book by Andrew Murray, a South African minister (1828-1917). He was prolific author of about 240 books and pastored churches in Cape Town and Wellington in South Africa.

The title of a book by Murray intrigued me. It was called “Absolute Surrender”. In a military context, when an army accepts the absolute surrender of its enemy, they then have total control over them. They enemy no longer can defend themselves, they are told what to do and where to go. Even their lives are at the mercy of the winning army.

Absolute surrender to God is something different. When we turn ourselves over completely to Jesus, we allow Him to do His will through us. His absolutely perfect love can work through us. Instinctively, I know and scripture tells us that is what He wants from us. I can imagine that it is more wonderful that words can describe. But how many of us have done that absolutely?

We read about people that have done that with their lives and how God has taken them through many trials, but has also blessed them in ways we don’t understand. Murray described how George Muller shared on his 90th birthday how God blessed him over the years. He ascribed it to two things.

• He had been enabled by grace to maintain a good conscience before God day by day, and
• He was a lover of God’s Word.

A good conscience before God is complete obedience to God day by day, and fellowship with God by study of His Word and prayer. His was a life of absolute surrender.

Most often, we see that in Christians in their last days. They know their time on earth is short, the “important” things are no longer important. They completely surrender to Jesus. There is an aura of peace that seems to surround them.

Absolute surrender. It is the only thing He wants, He wants all of us. Maybe we should pray for absolute surrender to Jesus in our lives. What do you think?