Lesson 11: A life of absolute surrender, part 3
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
I do not speak now so much about the giving up of sins. There are people who need that, people who have violent tempers, bad habits, and actual sins which they from time to time commit, and which they have never given up into the very bosom of the Lamb of God. I pray you, if you are branches of the living Vine, do not keep one sin back. I know there are a great many difficulties about this question of holiness; I know that all do not understand it exactly the same way. That would be to me a matter of comparative indifference, if I could see that all are honestly longing to be free from every sin. But I am afraid that unconsciously there are often in hearts, compromises with the idea that we cannot be without sin, we must sin a little every day; we cannot help it. Oh, that people would actually cry to God, “Lord, do keep me from sin!" Give yourself utterly to Jesus, and ask Him to do His very utmost for you in keeping you from sin.
There is a great deal in our work, in our Church, and in our surroundings, that we found in the world when we were born into it, and it has grown all round us, and we think that it is all right; it cannot be changed. We do not come to the Lord Jesus and ask Him about it. I advise you, Christians, bring everything into relationship with Jesus and say: “Lord, everything in my life has to be in most complete harmony with my position as a branch of You, the blessed Vine."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I make this my prayer today. I choose to stay in step with You so that every breath is a prayer, every thought includes You, and every step or word is according to Your will. I know I am weak, so be the strength in me that is needed to keep me close to Your side.