Devotionals

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You’ve just won a big screen TV! All you have to do is call today! In fine print reads, “Certain conditions apply.” There is always a catch when it comes to getting something for nothing. By the time you get that big screen TV, you’re locked into some weird, long term subscription for a service you’ll never use, that will cost you at least as much as a big screen TV in the long run. Those of us who have fallen for scams are not so quick to believe such an offer. Maybe that’s why we have such a hard time believing the simplicity of the gospel… that there is nothing we could ever offer that would leave us deserving this great gift of love. No matter how good, no matter how worthy, we cannot be worthy of salvation. God’s requirement? That we believe! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Romans 3:23 The catch? God does want something from us. He requests that we give Him our sorrows, disappointments, hurts, inadequacies, fears, worries, weaknesses, failures. He wants to take those things from us. To surrender to God means to give up control. Control is born of fear. Our past life experiences contribute to the fears we have and the control we attempt to have in order to protect ourselves from pain. Jesus said yes to pain, surrendering His life completely to the Father’s will for mankind. We no longer need to fear the unknown, for He has conquered all: fear, sickness, poverty, evil, death. Surrendering control is to gain freedom and victory in Christ. Yielding our hearts and lives to God is to gain everything for nothing.

Not long ago you were despised refuse—
out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored.
But now I've put you on your feet,
towering and grand forever, a joy to look at!
When you suck the milk of nations
and the breasts of royalty,
You'll know that I, God, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.
I'll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs!
Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,
bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.
Isaiah 60:16-17 (from The Message)

Father, we come to you in humility, for we have nothing to offer You that is worthy of the great gift you have given us… the inheritance of Your Son, Jesus, and the inheritance of Your Kingdom. We confess that we are weak and in desperate need of your love. We believe that you have given us so much because you love us, and we receive this priceless gift in all humility. We surrender our hearts to you, our will, our fears, our desire to be in control of our lives and our future. May this be a sweet smelling sacrifice to you, oh Lord. We love you, Jesus!

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