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Unreserved Surrender, September 13
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
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God will accept nothing less than unreserved surrender. Half-hearted, sinful
Christians can never enter heaven. There they would find no happiness; for they
know nothing of the high, holy principles that govern the members of the royal
family.
The true Christian keeps the windows of the soul open heavenward. He lives
in fellowship with Christ. His will is conformed to the will of Christ. His highest
desire is to become more and more Christlike....
Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us. Not as a
penance are we to do this, but as the only means of gaining true happiness. The
only way to gain peace and joy is to have a living connection with Him who gave
His life for us, who died that we might live, and who lives to unite His power with
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the efforts of those who are striving to overcome.
Holiness is constant agreement with God. Shall we not strive to be that which
Christ so greatly desires us to be—Christians in deed and in truth—that the world
may see in our lives a revelation of the saving power of truth? This world is
our preparatory school. While here we shall meet with trials and difficulties.
Continually the enemy of God will seek to draw us away from our allegiance. But
while we cleave to Him who gave Himself for us, we are safe.
The whole world was gathered into the embrace of Christ. He died on the
cross to destroy him who had the power of death, and to take away the sin of every
believing soul. He calls upon us to offer ourselves on the altar of service, a living,
consuming sacrifice. We are to make an unreserved consecration to God of all that
we have and are.
In this lower school of earth we are to learn the lessons that will prepare us
to enter the higher school, where our education will continue under the personal
instruction of Christ. Then He will open to us the meaning of His Word. Shall we
not, in the few days of probation remaining to us, act like men and women who
are seeking for life in the kingdom of God, even an eternity of bliss.
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