Abiding and Abounding

07/19/23 – 07/27/23

SWEET SURRENDER

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/20/23

Read Philippians 1:27-30.

Jesus promised: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, . . . I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11). If you want to experience indescribable joy, obey God—even when it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.

The enemies of Christ would like us to believe that obedience is too great a burden. But nothing could be further from the Truth. Rather, it is sin that burdens. Sin eclipses joy and divides our hearts, homes, and churches. But when we acknowledge, confess, and reject sin, when we repent and submit to the easy yoke of Jesus (see Matthew 11:28-30), our joy is restored.

The grace and love of God make surrender to Christ sweet. Because, if we belong to Jesus, we have “encouragement from being united with Christ, . . . comfort from his love, . . . common sharing in the Spirit, . . . [and] tenderness and compassion” (Philippians 2:1). The more we surrender to our gracious God, the more joyful we’ll become—and the more joyful we become, the more fearlessly we’ll stand firm in the face of any trial, knowing to whom we belong.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for giving me true freedom. I know that through You I have received every good thing and have been freed from the chains of sin to pursue and enjoy them from here to eternity. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).