Embracing the Gift: Surrendering to God's Love

Devotional

Day 1: The Gift of Jesus: A Call to Surrender

The profound gift of Jesus Christ, the King, is a testament to God's immense love for humanity. This gift, while freely given, invites us to a life of surrender and humility. Jesus, Emmanuel, came not to condemn but to save the world, offering salvation and eternal life. To fully receive this gift, we must lay down our pride and self-reliance, opening our hearts to the transformative power of God's love. The incarnation of Jesus is a call to respond with open hearts, embracing the life-changing impact of His presence in our lives. [38:39]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific areas of pride or self-reliance do you need to surrender to fully embrace the gift of Jesus in your life today?

Day 2: Joseph's Example of Surrender

Joseph's response to the unexpected news of Mary's pregnancy is a powerful example of true surrender. Faced with a situation that disrupted his plans, Joseph chose to trust in God's greater purpose. His obedience and humility allowed him to embrace God's plan, leading to a transformation in his life. This story invites us to reflect on our own lives and consider what we need to surrender to experience the transformative power of obedience and humility. By letting go of our plans and trusting in God's purpose, we open ourselves to the possibility of transformation and growth. [44:20]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: What is one plan or expectation you need to let go of to trust in God's greater purpose for your life?

Day 3: The Paradox of Surrender

In the gospel, surrender is not seen as a loss but as a path to true freedom. By letting go of our control and desires, we find peace, joy, and eternal life in Christ. This paradox challenges us to view surrender as a gateway to experiencing God's fullness. While the world may perceive surrender as weakness, in Christ, it is the key to unlocking a life of abundance and fulfillment. Embracing this paradox allows us to experience the peace and joy that come from a life surrendered to Christ. [46:43]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace the paradox of surrender to find true freedom and peace in Christ?

Day 4: The Cost to Jesus

The cost of our salvation was immense for Jesus, who emptied Himself and became obedient to death on a cross. This sacrifice underscores the depth of God's love for us and challenges us to respond with gratitude and humility. Reflecting on the cost to Jesus helps us appreciate the magnitude of the gift we have received. It calls us to live lives that honor His sacrifice, embracing the love and grace that have been freely given to us. [51:19]

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live a life that honors the immense sacrifice Jesus made for you, showing gratitude and humility in your daily actions?

Day 5: Living with Open Hands

To receive God's gift of salvation, we must live with open hands, ready to surrender our lives to Him. This posture of humility allows us to experience the peace, hope, and joy that come from a life surrendered to Christ. As we open our hands, we open our hearts to the transformative power of God's love. Living with open hands means being willing to let go of our fears, control, and desires, trusting that God's plan for our lives is greater than our own. [57:30]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific fear or desire you need to release to live with open hands, fully trusting in God's plan for your life?

Sermon Summary

The message today centers on the profound gift of Jesus Christ, the King who has come to be with us, Emmanuel. This gift, while free, calls us to a life of surrender and humility. We are reminded of the immense love God has for us, demonstrated through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, who came not to condemn the world but to save it. This act of love is the ultimate gift, one that costs us nothing to receive but requires us to lay down our pride and self-reliance to truly embrace it.

The story of Joseph serves as a powerful example of surrender. Faced with unexpected circumstances, Joseph had to let go of his plans and trust in God's greater purpose. His obedience and humility reflect the kind of surrender we are called to in our own lives. Just as Joseph's life was transformed by his willingness to follow God's plan, we too are invited to experience transformation by surrendering our own desires and control to God.

The paradox of the gospel is that in surrender, we find true freedom. While the world may see surrender as a loss, in Christ, it is the pathway to peace, joy, and eternal life. The cost of this gift to Jesus was immense—He emptied Himself, taking on human form and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This sacrifice underscores the depth of God's love for us and challenges us to respond with open hearts and hands.

As we reflect on this message, we are encouraged to consider what we need to surrender to fully receive the gift of salvation. Whether it's our plans, fears, or control, letting go allows us to embrace the life God has for us. This Christmas, may we be reminded of the King who has come, the gift that costs nothing yet changes everything, and the love that surpasses all understanding.

Key Takeaways

1. reliance to fully receive it. The incarnation of Jesus is a profound demonstration of God's love, calling us to respond with open hearts. [38:39]
2. Joseph's Example of Surrender: Joseph's response to the unexpected news of Mary's pregnancy exemplifies true surrender. He let go of his plans and trusted in God's purpose, showing us the transformative power of obedience and humility. This story invites us to consider what we need to surrender in our own lives.

3. The Paradox of Surrender: In the gospel, surrender is not a loss but a path to true freedom. By letting go of our control and desires, we find peace, joy, and eternal life in Christ. This paradox challenges us to view surrender as a gateway to experiencing God's fullness.

4. The Cost to Jesus: The cost of our salvation was immense for Jesus, who emptied Himself and became obedient to death on a cross. This sacrifice highlights the depth of God's love and calls us to respond with gratitude and humility. Reflecting on this cost helps us appreciate the magnitude of the gift we have received.

5. Living with Open Hands: To receive God's gift of salvation, we must live with open hands, ready to surrender our lives to Him. This posture of humility allows us to experience the peace, hope, and joy that come from a life surrendered to Christ. As we open our hands, we open our hearts to the transformative power of God's love.

** [38:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:47] - Community Involvement and Bite to Go
[31:00] - Feeding the Hungry: A Biblical Mandate
[34:37] - Prayer and Unity in the Church
[37:35] - The King Has Come: Advent Series
[38:39] - Emmanuel: God With Us
[41:03] - The Gift of Love: John 3:16-17
[43:34] - The Cost of Receiving the Gift
[46:03] - Joseph's Surrender
[46:43] - The Paradox of Surrender
[49:57] - The Cost to Jesus
[52:17] - Understanding God's Love
[54:07] - The Purpose of the King's Coming
[55:31] - An Exercise in Surrender
[57:30] - Living with Open Hands

Sermon Clips

The gift that costs nothing. A gift that lasts forever. A gift worth so much you can't afford it, and no one can buy it for you. A gift worth life itself. Our series this year for Advent has been called The King Has Come. And this king brings this gift. This king is this gift. [00:37:21] (32 seconds)

Look, the virgin will conceive a child. She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. Emmanuel. God with us. The king has come. And the king is God with us. And this king brings a gift that costs nothing. A gift that lasts forever. [00:38:39] (32 seconds)

Because to receive this gift of salvation, we have to lay down attempting to control our lives. We have to surrender. We have to let go of our self-reliance, our desire to control and manage. We have to admit we are sinful. We have to admit we need help. It costs us our pride because it requires humility. [00:43:10] (36 seconds)

Joseph's response serves as a model of what surrender looks like. Laying down everything we thought was going to happen, laying it all down, our expectations, our desires, and just saying yes to God and walking forward in obedience. It's a free gift that God offers, that Jesus' incarnation, His birth, His life, His execution, His sacrifice, His resurrection offers. [00:45:14] (37 seconds)

Surrender is commonly used and thought of in military terms, in confrontational terms, where when one surrenders to the other, it signifies loss. Yet when we consider God's offer of salvation through his son Jesus and Jesus' call to surrender, we find the paradox that's within the gospel. [00:46:43] (30 seconds)

If we truly consider the cost and the price of this free gift of salvation, it costs the son of God his life. That is how much you are loved by God. And this is the magnitude of love within the free gift that God offers to offer us eternal life, to save us from sin. [00:52:59] (35 seconds)

The King has come to save us from sin. To reconcile us to God. To offer us peace and hope and joy and love. To offer us meaning and purpose and eternal life. The King has come because that is how much God loves you. We need to begin to wrap our head around this magnitude, this unfathomable love as best we can. [00:53:58] (41 seconds)

God's gift of salvation requires open hands and letting go, allowing him to lead from a humble and surrendered posture. The gift is free, and it lasts forever, but living into it costs us surrender. Now open your hands as a physical gesture of surrendering those things to Jesus. [00:57:20] (31 seconds)

And with these open hands, if you surrender your entire life to Jesus and accept his sacrifice, his payment for your sin, and ask for his forgiveness, you can receive the free gift of salvation. You can receive his peace. You can receive his hope. You can receive his joy. [00:57:53] (27 seconds)

Maybe you've already surrendered, but there's something that you've yanked back control of, and you're holding on tight, and your fist is clenched around it. And you need to surrender it back to Jesus. The lyrics of this song encapsulate so much of what we've talked about today. [00:59:03] (24 seconds)

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