A sweet abandomnent in God's hands

As we surrender ourselves into the hands of Christ and decide to obey Him totally, a wonderful power is released into our inner being. The fear of what men can do to us disappears. There is no longer fear of God, hell or any condemnation for what we have done. And, instead of suffering, pain, problems and anguish, the Spirit of God floods us with a new light, a new hope, a great joy, a glorious peace and of abundant faith.

It has been said of Christ that He endured everything and obeyed His heavenly Father, not out of fear, but because of the joy that awaited Him. He put aside all burdens, pursued the race with patience, endured shame, never flinched, and was never morally fatigued - all because He saw the glorious reward of obedience. An indescribable joy. The peace. Rest. Freedom. Fullness.

Fear is not the best motivation for obedience, but love yes. It is a sweet surrender to the will of God that opens the doors of Heaven. It is the giving up of every sin, every act of disobedience that allows us to have a revelation of who Christ is. Scripture says : "Whoever sins has not seen it, and has not known it" (1 John 3: 6).

Is it possible that we no longer knew Him by living in disobedience ? Is it possible that we surrender to our lusts because we have never had a revelation of Christ, His hatred for sin, His absolute holiness, His glory and mercy ? To put it simply, the one who lives in disobedience has never really seen Christ."

Jesus said : "He who has my commandments and keeps them is he who loves me ; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, I will love him, and I will make myself known to him" (John 14:21).

What greater reward for obedience in love could we wish than to see Christ reveal Himself to us ? He says : "Love me enough to obey me. So, I will love you and show you who I am !"

David Wilkerson