“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” –Macbeth
You are not a player who struts and frets and is heard no more.
You are not an idiot—full of sound and fury—who signifies nothing.
You are a disciple of Jesus living on mission with a truth to tell.
Your life is a walking shadow with a brief moment in history to respond to the high calling of a Christian. You have an hour on stage to rest in His grace, demonstrate His grace, and proclaim His grace.
And although you are a player, Jesus is the star. Wherever you are planted, remember you are not the message, but the messenger.
When Moses was young, he was angry, but God didn’t hold him accountable for anger toward something he didn’t know. When Moses was old, he became angry, and God held him accountable. In the same way, God will hold us accountable for what we know and do nothing about.
I believe this is a time for the fame of Jesus, and I want to invite you to join me in living for the fame of Heaven and the approval of God.
This is only possible if our souls are intentionally surrendered to God’s control.
Picture yourself swinging on a trapeze, wishing to release the old bar and embrace the new. When you let go of the secure swing and reach for the oncoming one, there’s a moment of great risk. If the swing isn’t there, you’re toast.
Similarly, when we release all security, dreams, and ambitions to the Lord, there’s a defining moment when we’re hanging in midair. In that moment of surrender, we’re caught by God’s perfect embrace. The old is replaced with the new.
So how do we know if we are truly surrendered?
A good test of our surrender occurs when God takes away things that seem important, and we maintain a spirit of joy in the midst of pain and sadness.
In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes 11 chapters on God’s grace and love. In chapter 12 he invites us to become living sacrifices—surrendering to whatever, wherever, and however God wants to use us.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” –Romans 12:1-2
May we all totally and unconditionally surrender to our Heavenly Father and glorify Jesus Christ in our every action. May we approach our lives with hearts that would rather fail than not obey.
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