A life that surrenders to Christ with certain terms is not a life surrendered to Christ.

Do you love them only when they love you back?

Do you give only to those you deem worthy to receive?

Do you serve only those who are grateful?

Do you sacrifice only when there’s glory to be had?

Do you host only those who are enjoyable?

Do you obey only when it’s comfortable?

Are you surrendered to Christ?

Really, are you?

Or are you conveniently surrendered? 

There’s a lump in my throat and a heaviness on my chest. I like my comfortable life so much.

To risk living a life that’s Christian in name but not in heart. 

To live so comfortably that we’ve neglected Christ’s call. 

Where is the sacrifice? Where is the cost of His call? Where is the inconvenience?

We do not undertake hard for the sake of hard. But where His call requires hard, we are willing.

His merciful love does not depend on it. But a genuine experience of His love joyfully produces it.

Am I living a life that’s wholly submitted to Christ?

Or have I curtailed the absorption of His perfect Love into the deepest parts of me?

I fear my answer. Because my convenient surrender is not surrender.

But we don’t have to go it alone. Jesus in us, Jesus in us.

Peel back the comfortable, calloused layers, of our hearts, Lord. Take hold of every chamber.  Flush us out of our warm nest of earthly security and control. 

We are Yours. 

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV).

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” Philippians 2:17 (NIV).