What Can I Give Him?
Activities for the day are done, and another Christmas is in the books. Presents, too much food, the reading of Luke 2 and yes, even a few Christmas jokes as loved ones sat around the table. From the start of the day until this late hour, I’ve been pondering how God is such a generous giver. He willingly gave the best that Heaven could offer...His beloved Son.
Jesus will forever be our glorious King, perfectly righteous and holy. Yet He entered the stage of earth through most humble circumstances, a lowly stable.
Instead of frenzied crowds yelling His name in fanfare, Jesus was adored by simple shepherds. Instead of fancy garb and accommodations, He spent His first night on earth surrounded by animals as He lay in the manger filled with hay.
He deserved so much more. He put aside His ‘glory’ to become flesh and blood like me. It was the only way I could be saved.
So as I reflect on this, and just meditate on how much He has given me, I can’t help but think of what my response should be. If He gave everything - held nothing back - generously gave His best...shouldn’t I follow His example?
It’s easy to wrap up a few presents and put them under the tree, or deliver them to loved ones, or maybe even ship them to distant relatives. But what do I give to Him? To the one who already gave all He could?
The only word that has continually been with me today is surrender. The only response to His generosity that seems appropriate, is for me to give Him everything.
This is not the familiar sinner’s prayer where I simply say Yes, Jesus, I believe in you and I ask you into my heart. That’s good - and necessary. But this “surrender” is more. Is there any area that I have not allowed Him full access? Have I invited Him into every secret compartment of my heart? Is there anything I have withheld from Him...good or bad? Have I said “Yes” to His every request? Or is there something still lingering in the background of my mind because I think it might cost me too much?
Surrender. Maybe we need to call it ‘yielding’. However, it’s labeled, it is choosing to give Him everything, no matter the cost. He gave His best...I am compelled to do the same.
Sometimes surrender looks like perseverance. When times are difficult, I shouldn’t look for the easy way out, but rather stay the course He has set for me. Maybe in those hard times, I develop a strength and patience that otherwise would elude me. If I’m fully surrendered to Him, I won’t quit His plan just because it’s not easy.
I think surrender also looks like holding on to His promises. God is not a man that He should lie, nor does He have any darkness or shadow in Him. When He speaks, His word is truth and it can be trusted, even when I don’t understand. If my heart is surrendered to the Lord, then I will attach myself to His promises because I am assured He will not fail. He cannot fail.
In addition, surrender usually looks like walking by faith, not by sight. When I need to see every step and understand how the path will twist and turn before I’m willing to move, then I have not trusted Him to lead me, nor have I yielded my heart to His.
As I get ready to step into a New Year, I desire to surrender every aspect of my life to Jesus. I really don’t have anything else of value to give Him, except a life laid down. He graciously gives me His heart, and I can trust Him with mine.
