kicking and screaming

Any blushing mom who has ushered a screaming toddler out of a store knows of what I'm about to speak.  It's often about a battle of wills - the toddler, exercising their newfound ability to make decisions and test independence, protests being told to do something (or that they can't have something), and a dramatic scene takes place.  The child leaves with mom, kicking and screaming, insisting to have their way.

I envision that a lukewarm Christian's walk is often like this.  They go to church and hear an inspirational sermon, determined to better walk the straight and narrow path.  They do their best to pray, and they put some money into the offering plate on Sunday.  They know right from wrong, as it has been ingrained in many of us since childhood.  They might buy a few cans for the food drive, and donate a box of clothing to a charity.  Do not misunderstand me - these things are all good things.  But it's not enough.  The inspiration will often fade, the spirit will get weak, and people slip back into old ways and sinful habits.

Sometimes, we are like a toddler in the midst of his tantrum - unwilling to lay down pride to surrender to the one in charge.  We often come to the Lord, yet inside our hearts are reluctant to give up selfish ways.  The Lord summons us, but often we're kicking and screaming.  We aren't ready to submit, to surrender, to humbly accept defeat and powerlessness.

To achieve true closeness and relationship with the Lord, though, much more is required.  In the gospel of John, when John the Baptist is questioned about Jesus, John states, "He must become greater, I must become less."  Such is it in our walk with Jesus.  WE CANNOT COMPLETELY SUBMIT TO JESUS UNTIL WE BECOME LESS.  Jesus says in Matthew 18: 3, "Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  That is to say, we are to be completely, utterly, wholly dependent upon him for provision, guidance, and survival.

What does complete surrender look like?

It looks like unconditional love.
It looks like forgiveness (maybe seventy times seven times).
Picking up your bible regularly.
Being able to lovingly confront someone else's sin.
It looks like giving your time on the Sabbath to the local soup kitchen instead of kicking back and watching football.
It looks like tithing, even when you don't know where the money will come from to pay your other bills.
It's biting your tongue instead of engaging in gossip.  Or, perhaps standing up for the person and possibly enduring ridicule or judgment.
It's teaching your children to pray and sticking with it, even if at the end of the day you can't put two sentences together.
It's withholding criticism of character in an argument.
It looks like submitting sinful thoughts to the Lord and denying them.
It looks like self-control.
It's a purity of heart and mind.
It looks like submission to God's will, even if it scares the pants off of you.

Colossians 3:5-10 states, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But no you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these:  anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with these practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

As humans, we are sinful by nature.  It is IMPERATIVE that we come to the Lord in prayer to surrender these things to him.  He is faithful and will hear us when we ask for transformation.  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will." - Romans 12:2 (emphasis added)

So, as in the case of the exhausted toddler, we learn that we will not win this battle.  The Lord is in charge, and we must completely bend to his will and surrender to him in order to achieve peace and transformation.