If you’re a fan of Mixed Martial Arts, you get the idea of tapping out. If you’re not, let me explain. If you were in the ring with someone battling it out, you may try a submission move. It’s called a submission move because the hope is that the other person will submit to you by tapping out, thus admitting defeat. Submission is a huge idea in the life of a Christ follower because we are commanded to do so, that is, to submit to God.
Without submitting yourself to God, you will consistently live a life without Him as your Lord. To put God in the right position in your life, you must submit.
Tapping Out to Glory
See what Jesus said regarding this below:
Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
You may or not be a competitive person, but let’s just say that you are for this short moment. Imagine being in the ring with someone for an MMA fight. You want to win. You want the victory. The match begins and eventually you get your opposition right where you want them. They tap out and you gain the victory.
What happened within your opponent to get them to give up on victory for themselves? You gave them a reason to let go of their plan and to adopt yours, right? Either you tap out or I break your arm. The choice is simple.
Unlike going against an opponent in MMA, God has called you to tap out for a different reason. In a real sense, you have put yourself in a place where you are breaking your own soul, just like the rest of humanity. Because of sin, we have no hope left to ourselves. But Jesus has changed everything because He has offered forgiveness to us.
Because of what has been done for you, you are called to tap out when it comes to your will. Jesus calls you, and everyone else, to a radical surrender. Better yet, He demands it. To truly live the life that Jesus has for you, you MUST let go of your life and give it completely to Him. There is no holding back.
Why wouldn’t you give up everything to follow Jesus? He has redeemed you and He is the best thing for you. The apostle Paul understood this very thing.[shareable]Why wouldn’t you give up everything to follow Jesus? He has redeemed you and He is the best thing for you.[/shareable]
See what he says:
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Jesus does not want a casual commitment and yet casually committed “Christians” are the norm in America today. It’s time that we get back to what Jesus calls us to. Give up. Tap out. Give Him everything!
Scripture To Read Today
Philippians 3
Question To Consider
In what areas of your life have you not surrendered to God? What are you going to do about it?
