Surrender

I've been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren as part of my church's 40 Days of Purpose spiritual growth campaign. I read chapter 10 last night, in which the topic of surrender as the heart of worship was addressed. I was struck by one particular part, where Rick talked about Jesus Christ being the supreme example of surrender, how He really wanted the Father's will to be done, even on the night before His crucifixion. I couldn't help trying to imagine how it might have felt to know that you were going to be horribly beaten, disfigured and brutally executed as a public spectacle and still honestly want it just because you know it's part of God's plan. I tried, but I couldn't. Jesus was truly human and divine at the same time, that I know for sure. I'm sure His "rational" mind and body completely abhorred even the thought of crucifixion. The Gospel of Luke records that blood came out with His sweat, a sign of extreme mental and emotional torment. He knew what was coming, and yet still willingly surrendered to it, still was able to wholeheartedly say, "Yes" to the Father.
Such was the power of His supreme surrender: the power of Sin and Death was broken forever. The downfall of Lucifer and the dawning of salvation for mankind began in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the "deal was closed", and Jesus signed on the dotted line, willingly placing His neck on the line for us. The effects of that surrender still echoe in eternity and reverbate in every soul that turns his back on Sin. There is immeasurable power in a life wholly surrendered to God. Immense, immensurate power.
My desire is to be used by God, to bring great renown to His name. It seems that the quickest and most effective way to fulfil this desire is to surrender to Him. If only I could really know this truth; if only this incredible truth would capture my heart and mind and soul and drive me to throw everything at my Lord's feet. Perhaps remembering how much our Lord suffered and gave up that night in Gethsemane would motivate me further to surrendering the small things that I find so hard to give up.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ^Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ^Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3)