LIFE Posts - Surrendering our idols, part 3
We conclude our review of surrender this week looking at the remaining area of our lives which must be surrendered to God – the all-encompassing surrender of ourselves. We start by revisiting the scripture from Luke in part one of this study, expanding to capture Jesus’ full intention and explanation.
Luke 14:27–33 (NLT) 14:27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 14:28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 14:29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 14:30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 14:31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 14:32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 14:33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. [1]
Jesus tells us in verses 27 - 28 that there is a cost we must pay to claim Him as Lord and be His disciples, and in verse 33 makes it clear that the cost is everything.
Questions often arise about this statement, since elsewhere we’re told that salvation is free by God’s Grace, and isn’t earned through any works or effort (i.e., Ephesians 2:8-9). We must recall that Jesus paid our sin debt to provide our salvation (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Mark 10:45) – a cost that we should count, realizing we did not and could not pay it.
Although they pale in comparison to what Jesus did for us, earthly analogies often help spur reflection. Consider a situation where someone you dearly love – your spouse, your child, etc. – has been diagnosed with an illness that if not treated quickly will result in death. You are their earthly provider, and are responsible for them, but cannot afford the medical procedure that will save them. Consider how much financial resources you have right now – whatever your circumstances are – and imagine the cost of the procedure is 10000 times more than what you have. There’s no hope for you to come up with the money to pay the cost. You deeply love your family member, but are powerless to save them, and the hospital will not treat them without being paid up front. What depths of desperation and despondency you would feel! Now imagine hearing that someone has shown up to the hospital and offered to pay the bill for you – no strings attached – other than wanting you to be their friend. What was impossible has been made possible without your having to “do” anything other than saying yes to being their friend. What relief you would feel!
The analogy is imperfect but helps us see that Jesus paid a debt that was impossible for us to pay. This payment provides for us cleansing of our sins and right standing before God. Without Jesus’ sacrifice, we would spend eternity in hell. That is the cost He paid for us. We should not take this lightly, though all too often we do.
Jesus tells us that He requires our everything in order to be His disciples. We should understand this to mean that our life after accepting Him as Savior should show authenticity in our declaration of faith in Him. What does this mean? The Lexham Bible Dictionary describes Luke’s presentation of salvation and its cost with, “Luke presents the paradoxical truth that salvation in Jesus Christ is the free gift from God that costs the recipient everything.”[2]
Jesus in Matthew 7:15-20 tells us that we will know a tree by the fruit that it bears, the analogy pointing to the truth that people will bear fruit out of their own hearts – this fruit being actions that demonstrate their heart’s spiritual condition. Authenticity in and of our salvation is demonstrated by our surrendering everything to the Holy Spirit. David Gooding writes:
“But [family] and all else he [a believer] must surrender to Christ, and be prepared unquestioningly to accept Christ’s authority over everything. Salt is good; but salt that has lost its saltiness is useless. Is it worth calling it salt? A traveller who is not prepared to stir out of his armchair in his study, is not a traveller. A disciple who is not prepared to follow the master or do what he says, is no disciple.”[3]
When we call upon Jesus as Savior, we’ve declared Him as Lord of our lives. He is the King above all Kings – and that isn’t a ceremonial title like the British monarchy – it is absolute over everything. Our hopes, our goals, our dreams, our desires, our hurts, and our failures – all must be submitted to Him. This surrender is to be complete – and these are the costs that Jesus says we should count. The devil, our enemy, wants us to look at these things just as Adam and Eve looked at the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the book of Genesis. He’ll whisper lies to us such as, “that isn’t important to God,” “you deserve to be able to do that, everyone else is,” “it isn’t fair that they are going to get away with that,” and so on – the list of lies (many of them subtle) is seemingly endless. It is good for us to look at the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, because it shows us that they lived in harmony and perfect relationship with God. God had given them everything, yet only one thing was off-limits, the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Think about it – they were given and had everything! Yet the devil got them to look at the one thing they were restricted from, and they decided to take it. We know the cost of their choice because of our spot in history, and we can see that that cost they paid was not worth breaking relationship with God.
So it is with our own lives. Surrendering ourselves – our everything – to God sounds ludicrous to the natural, earthly mindset. The devil wants us to focus on what we’d be giving up instead of realizing God’s Love and Ways are far, far better than anything we’ve fixated on. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s plans for us are for our good and therefore are best for us. He loves us!
The devil will bring condemnation to us after we listen to him and sin, and also out of those attacks of condemnation will tell us that it is impossible for us to surrender everything to God and be perfect. This is where we need to recognize his lies and reject them, since he wants nothing more than to freeze us and keep us from our ongoing sanctification. Surrendering is our ongoing opportunity, every day. When we fail, we have the Mercy and Grace of God to cover us when we confess our failures, repent of them, and surrender our control to the Holy Spirit. The peace we have will continue to grow, since our surrender allows us to more deeply commune with the Holy Spirit. Rejoice that He wants us to draw close to Him so that He can draw closer to us!
Application/Questions/Journal your thoughts
- Spending time in prayer with the Holy Spirit should be a continuous thing (1 Thess 5:17) – just as you would continuously talk with a best friend you were with on an outing together. The Holy Spirit lives in us, so is with us always. Talk to Him! Dedicate some time to go through your goals – your thoughts and dreams for your life – and talk to Him about them and ask His direction and guidance. As part of these conversations, submit them to Him by telling Him something like, “I have always wanted or dearly want this, but if You tell me that there’s something else You want for me, I surrender it to You.” As you do this, and prayerfully read the Bible, you will be blessed with His Wisdom and direction. Journal your way through this process!
- Surrendering everything to the Lord can be a difficult concept to grasp completely, one item that sometimes is missed in surrendering ourselves to Him is understanding that we’re to surrender not only today and tomorrow, but also our past. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit if there’s anything in your past that you need to surrender to Him. Journal what you get from Him and submit it to Him. Share with a brother or sister in Christ.
Scripture of the week
Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP2015) 29:11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [4]
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (AMP2015) 5:17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; [5]
Colossians 4:2 (AMP2015) 4:2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. [6]
Romans 12:1–2 (AMP2015) 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. [7]
Philippians 3:7–8 (AMP2015) 3:7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 3:8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, [8]
Weekly prayer
Dear Jesus,
I surrender all to You this day – please help me with what I am having a hard time surrendering! Thank You for Your relentless Love for me, and that You call me to surrender not that I “give things up” but that I may gain the absolute best, which is Your Will for me. I love You, Lord! Amen.
Freedom Facet
Surrendering ourselves to Jesus takes our conscious efforts; the natural mindset is selfish and wants to “get” and not “give up.” Such earthly economics do not work in the Kingdom of God. We can see how the accumulation of earthly things – whether money, relationships, careers, possessions – doesn’t bring any sort of lasting peace or satisfaction. Earthly items never satisfy, they instill anxiety and hunger for more, in an ever-increasing and desperate cycle. Handing things over to God in surrender can be scary but always results in the best for us. Indeed, the “trust fall” exercise with the Lord always demonstrates that He is perfect, His Love for us is perfect, and we can trust Him with everything. What we get when we give it all to Him is worth more than the world can give to us.
Jesus's Freedom is for those who call Him Lord - those who believe in Him. If you’ve not yet accepted Christ Jesus as Your Lord, and would like to, say the following prayer aloud.
Lord Jesus, I confess and realize that I am a sinner, and without You, I am lost and separated from God. Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins – I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins, and I thank you and receive the forgiveness of my sins Your Word says is now mine! Holy Spirit, I thank You that You now reside within me. I lay down my will for Yours and ask for Your daily guidance and direction to make me more and more like You. Amen!
The Bible tells us that if we confess Jesus as Lord with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God resurrected Jesus from the dead, we are saved for eternity. If you’ve just accepted Jesus as Lord, know that heaven is celebrating right now (Luke 15:10)! Rejoice because you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and now have begun the process of sanctification becoming like Him. Keep coming back, as we explore Freedom facets and what our Identity in Christ truly is. Share this joyous news with a brother or sister in Christ and get connected in your local church! LIFE is yours!
Small Group Invitations - Week of June 14, 2026
Below are invitations to just a couple of Men's Small Groups that are happening this week, both a part of Celebration Church, Georgetown, Texas. If these don't work for you, or if you're not a Celebration Church, TX attendee - regardless of the church you attend - being a part of small group is immensely important! If you're not involved in one, I pray that you find one that works for your schedule and you get plugged in. Being connected in the local church will bless you immeasurably!
Tuesday Morning Men's Fellowship Group: 6am - 7am at Rudy's BBQ in Round Rock, Texas. Join us for a time of fellowship where we'll discuss the message from the Pastors on Sunday, the newsletter contents, or whatever is going on in the lives of the brothers meeting.
Friday Morning Celebration Men: We're back on-campus! Join us at the Celebration Church, Georgetown, TX campus Annex Friday morning at 6:30 am for breakfast tacos, coffee, and a message from our pastors. We conclude at 8am so people can get to work.
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Huffman, Douglas S. 2016. “Luke, Gospel of.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Gooding, David. 2013. According to Luke: The Third Gospel’s Ordered Historical Narrative. Myrtlefield Expositions. Coleraine, Northern Ireland: Myrtlefield House.
[4] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[5] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[6] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[7] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[8] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.