Surrender like a Rescue
In you, O Lord , do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord , faithful God.
Psalms 31:1–5 ESV Read More
Tim Keller has a great sermon about the absolute miracle that any of us are saved. In it, he sounds a little bit like King David here (and later Jesus!) when he surrenders to God.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me…
Keller says that when people ask “Are you a Christian?” the answer is full of awe and wonder like we can barely believe God saved us ourselves. The answer shouldn’t be a proud boast like we got a 4.0 at Yale or ran a 4-minute mile.
When we were rescued and saved, it was a rescue in every sense of the word. We didn’t look extra shiny or attractive so as to draw attention ourselves over anyone else. To say that you are a Christian is to admit that you needed saving and that salvation you needed has happened. Yes, you may overcome and have victory over all kinds of things, but that is because of our salvation, not on our way to it.
Even Christ on the cross didn’t make demands of God, as if God owed Him anything. Full surrender, full submission to God’s will, that is where we really see salvation happen.
Let us hand God our reputation and our hopes today. Let us offer our disappointments and expectations to Him to see if He can use them better than we can.
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