Today’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 37:11-38:28; Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
Surrender… I don’t want to surrender, I want to win!
Isn’t that the way we’re taught to think?
King Zedekiah, king of Judah definitely came from the “win at all costs” camp. He had no thoughts of surrendering to the Babylonians.
Until…
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned down. But if you refuse to surrender, you will not escape! This city will be handed over to the Babylonians, and they will burn it to the ground.’”
“But I am afraid to surrender,” the king said, “for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!” Jeremiah replied, “You won’t be handed over to them if you choose to obey the Lord. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you.
But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me:
All the women left in your palace will be brought out and given to the officers of the Babylonian army. Then the women will taunt you, saying, ‘What fine friends you have!
They have betrayed and misled you. When your feet sank in the mud, they left you to your fate!’ All your wives and children will be led out to the Babylonians, and you will not escape. You will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.” –Jeremiah 38:17-23
Do you think Zedekiah surrendered?
What would you have done?
Isn’t it funny how easy it is to see clearly when you’re looking at someone else’s life?
Of course Zedekiah should have surrendered, but he didn’t (Jeremiah 39).
Friend, what is the Lord telling You?
What do you need to surrender to?
Maybe it’s …
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Surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
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Surrendering to God’s special calling on your life
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Stopping something or starting something
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Surrendering CONTROL
Isn’t that what surrendering is about, giving up control?
What are you trying to control today that needs to be surrendered to your Heavenly Father?
Lord, I’m sure our need to control is one of the results of Adam and Eve’s sin.
After all, wasn’t that what Eve really wanted when she ate the apple—–> To Know it all and be in control?
Lord, help us to daily raise our hands and open them toward You as a sign of surrender.
Jesus, I want to overcome my fear of surrendering. Make me like You Lord!
In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!
© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Jeremiah 51:59-64
