Wave Your White Flag!

In movies that involve a battle scene, there is always a winner and a loser.  The loser or the weaker opponent will eventually signal that the battle is over or that they are ready to give up.  If a white flag is raised in battle, defeat is signaled and sends a message to the opponent that “you win.”  If you are the white flag-bearer, it probably takes the last bit of strength, to admit surrender in a hard-fought contest.  It symbolizes a loss.      

Taking another look at some seasonal tunes, there is an old favorite called Away in the Manger. You probably learned it as a child and grew up with it.  This lullaby speaks of the “little” baby Jesus but our God is far from tiny.  The song sites his infant condition but that was written in the 1800’s.  That was then. 

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing he poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus look down from the sky
And stay by my side,'til morning is nigh.

God sent his Son in the form of a perfect baby to pay the price for our sins.  The tiny baby in the manger was God’s plan.  I’ll admit that sending a baby is a strange way to save us all.  I am fresh out of names of anyone else who would sacrifice their one and only son to make the journey to torture-filled cross.

There is only one God with a plan and He knew we were going to need a Savior.  News flash....God has been in control ever since time began.  He still is.  Our response should be surrender to His Lordship. 

Jesus is Lord.

…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ~ Luke 2:10-11

Because he is Lord and our Authority, we must surrender our entire heart, soul and mind to him.  Sometimes we think that we can control our life and the things in this universe better than God could.  To think like this is called the partially surrendered life.    

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46

In case you haven’t noticed…we can’t control this craziness we call life.  We can’t control nor should we.  We don’t know all, see all, or aren't mighty enough to save all.

The other side of the battle is a fully surrendered life. 

“For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Romans 14:7-8 NLT 

This is my life verse and I repeat it often…”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”   Prov. 3:5-6

Tucked away in the manger is a great gift that costs us nothing but it cost God everything.  Our response should be one of surrender to his lord-ship in everything.  

To know God is to love Him…. to know Him is to trust him in everything!  If you trust him then you will stop trying to control Him and start letting Him control!   It’s time to start waving the white flag!! 

As we accept the gift of salvation... it costs us everything.

There is freedom in surrender.

What do you need to surrender to the God?