Daily Devotion: Absolute Surrender

Scripture:
2 Timothy 3: 1-9

Main Verse:
2 Timothy 3: 7
[They are] always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Observation:
The Lord is pleased when we read and meditate on His Word because it only shows that we want to learn more about Him, and we desire to be corrected, rebuked, and trained for righteousness. But when we are unable to understand the truths stated in the Bible, then there must be something wrong. In verses 2-4, the apostle Paul warned Timothy that people will be "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD. These are the reasons people have not been able to understand the truth about God. People have been so obsessed with themselves and the things of this world and are no longer interested in obeying the Lord.

Jesus Christ showed us how obedience, suffering, and sacrifice are key ingredients to a mature Christian life. He did not love himself but was full of love towards others, including his enemies. Despite having human form, He was holy and never sinned. He was obedient to the Father and followed His will even though it meant suffering and sacrificing His own life for the forgiveness of our sins.

Application:
We cannot declare that we love the Lord if there is no obedience. Likewise, we cannot obey the Lord if we do not genuinely love Him. And if we do love the Lord, then we must be willing to give up ourselves. The Lord says we must be willing to take up His cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24), and that means absolute surrender. The Christian life is never easy. A disciple of Christ will bear a cross full of nails and thorns. But the Lord wants to ask us this very important question: Are we willing to follow Him despite the hardships, and are we truly ready to give up our dreams, our wealth, and our time to follow the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord, the subject of obedience is a very serious matter, and I believe that you want what is best for your disciples. If there was a time or if there were instances when I failed to be obedient to you, please forgive me. Your sacrifice on the cross for my salvation and the forgiveness of my sin is more than enough reason for me to follow you. May this be my reminder at all times when disobedience starts to show at my doorstep. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness! AMEN.