"Surrendered To A What Or Who?

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."  Matthew 16:24

When we come to Christ Jesus in salvation, we are not just gaining "fire insurance from hell", eternal life, a home on heaven when we die, a relationship with the Heavenly Father, we are also coming into a life of surrender.  Many think that they are surrendering to a "what"-- to a thing.  They think they are surrendering to a religious system, a denomination, a philosophy, a set of rules, a tithing principle, a church membership, a better way of living or a new moral behavior.

At salvation we don't surrender to a "what" (a thing), we surrender to a "who" (a person).  We are surrendering our lives to the Lord God Himself.  We are surrendering our will to conform to His will.  We are surrendering our desires and wants to His desires and wants for us.  We are surrendering to follow Him wherever He leads us.  We are surrendering to do as He tells us to do.  We are surrendering ourselves to be His child.  We are surrendering to living a life that honors Him, a life in reverence to Him, to love Him, obey Him, respect Him, humble ourselves before Him and glorify Him.  We are surrendering to the lifestyle He chooses for us.  We are surrendering to His plan for our lives, not our own.  We are surrendering to His calling.  We are surrendering all other priorities that we have established in our lives and making Him the first priority. 

Are you surrendered to Christ?  Are you surrendered to Him?  Or are you surrendered to an ideology, a system, a thing, a religion, a what?  He didn't tell us to surrender and follow a what/thing.  He told us to follow Him-- the One who loved us and gave His life for us.

Have a great day.  Are you surrendering your life to a "what" or a "Who"?