---

CALLING AND SURRENDER

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

 

 

     The missionary of the gospel of Jesus Christ is called to, and exercised in a life and ministry of spiritual devotion unto his loving Lord who has graciously called, commissioned, and sent him. He has the privilege of serving his blessed Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took upon Him the form of a servant and left unto His disciples an example, that they should follow in His gracious steps. Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, devoted His entire life as a sacrifice unto His heavenly Father. He endured the cross, despising the shame, for He delighted in the will and glory of His blessed Father. He suffered and died, the Just for the unjust, that He might purchase us for Himself and bring us to God. May we by the grace of the Holy Spirit then also give our lives as a living sacrifice unto Him who has so abundantly loved us. Let us joy and delight in taking up the cross and following our Saviour, knowing that there is a crown of righteousness reserved for us in heaven. As the friend of the Bridegroom, let us joy in His joy, even in this, that sinners might be found in Christ at His appearing. Unto Jesus shall the gathering of the people be. May He be crowned with many, many crowns-the number of the redeemed, which no man can number-for He is worthy and His praise is glorious! (Isaiah 61:1; Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 40:7-8; 1 Peter 3:18; Mark 8: 34; 2 Timothy 4:8; John 3:29; Genesis 49:10; Revelation 4:10-11; Revelation 7:9)

 

 

 

Spiritual Devotion

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

 

1.     SURRENDERING COMPLETELY TO GOD'S WILL

·    Have you placed your own will underneath God's sovereign will so that you are ready to joy and delight in His will for your life?

·    Do you trust in God so that you bless the wisdom of His will that directs the every detail of your life, even when His will leads you in ways that seem to be contrary to human reason or your own physical and emotional desires?

·    Do you love God's will for your life as He reveals it objectively in the Holy Bible, so that you desire, out of loving-obedience, to live holy, in and through Christ Jesus your Saviour?

 

2.     COUNTING AND DEFYING THE COST

·    Have you considered the hardships, trials, and persecutions that you are sure to meet with in the path of loving-obedience to your Saviour?

·    Do you esteem these trials and reproaches for Christ as a light affliction, over which you rejoice in that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Jesus?

·    Is your heart wholly set on serving Christ and do you hate every temptation of looking back to the passing pleasures of sin which are but for a season?

 

3.     GIVING ONESELF WHOLLY TO CHRIST

·    Does Jesus and His sacrifice for sin mean everything to you?

·        Is your heart fully satisfied with Christ and do you joy and delight in Him in whom God the Father is well pleased and completely satisfied?

·        Is it love for Christ and His gospel that constrains you to love the persons and the souls of sinners?

·        Do you love Jesus through His love for you and do you rest, lean upon, and hope in His blood righteousness alone for all your salvation and acceptance before God?

·        Have you given yourself completely away unto Christ so that you are no more your own but belong entirely unto your faithful Saviour who has so abundantly loved you and bought you for Himself through His own blood?

·    Have you put Christ over against every sin in the balance of your heart, and when asked to choose between Christ and every sin, have you by the grace of the Holy Spirit joyfully chosen Christ and forsaken every sin?

 

4.     LOOKING FOR AND EXPECTING GOD TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS

·    Have you placed all your earthly needs into the hands of your gracious, heavenly Father, and do you trust in Him to supply you and your family with all things necessary for both soul and body, in this life and the one to come?

·        Are you confident in the providential care of God that He will protect, guide, and keep you and your loved ones through every spiritual and physical danger, in accordance to His gracious will?

·    Do you purpose to give yourself completely to God's service with all diligence, knowing that the faithful workman is worthy of his hire from his gracious Lord and Master, who with glory does clothe the lilies of the field and abundantly satisfies the fowls of the air?

 

5.     TAKING UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOWING JESUS

·    Are you ready to follow Jesus in whatever way He may lead you or through whatever circumstances He may call you?

·        Have you taken up the cross and are you ready to follow Jesus in the way of His cross?

·    Is your love to Jesus stronger than that blessed bond of love to your father or mother, sister or brother, husband or wife, son or daughter?

 

6.     EARNESTLY DESIRING AND EXPECTING THE COMING OF CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM

·    Do you with expectation long for the hour when Jesus will return, and when you will love Him without sin, even as He now loves you?

·    Besides the glory of God in your own salvation, is it your greatest joy to be the means in God's hand for pointing and leading sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ?

·    Do you purpose and love the glory of Jesus and His Father alone, so that you yourself would gladly be forgotten if only sinners might be found in Christ at His appearing?

·    Are you fully aware of your own insufficiency and inability in bringing one sinner to Christ, but in dependency on the sovereign, gracious workings of the Holy Spirit, do you with great expectation trust in God to abundantly bless the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, according to His own faithful promise?

 

7.     OVERCOMING THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

·    Do you overcome the power of sin, Satan, and the world through the blood of the Lamb?

·    Have you been plunged to victory beneath the blood of Christ and does His Spirit give you the victory over sin and death?

·    Do you expect and already apprehend the glorious victory of Christ and His Church?

 

8.     BEING FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

·    Have you committed your spirit into your heavenly Father's hands, so that if it is according to His will, you are ready to suffer and to die for the sake of Jesus Christ and His gospel?

·    Do you value the service to Christ and for His kingdom more than your own life?

·    If Christ so calls you, are you ready and willing to lose all for His sake and the sake of the gospel?

·    Have you trusted your life completely into your heavenly Father's gracious and protecting hands so that you can sweetly sing with John Ryland:

"Plagues and death around me fly;
Till He bids I cannot die;
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love sees fit."

  

Note:   The resolve and desire of all of these graces should be in the hearts of all missionaries of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but the measure and strength of these graces may vary according unto one's faith. Certain of these graces are often not fully realized until the hour or moment in which they are called to be exercised and/or experienced. It is my prayer that God will replenish you with His grace and Holy Spirit, and account you worthy to publish and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for His eternal glory in the salvation of sinners. "Go in this thy might... have not I sent thee?" (Judges 6:14)

 

 

A few hymns regarding devotion to God:

TRUST AND OBEY

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

I SURRENDER ALL

MY HEART DOTH OVERFLOW

JESUS CALLS US O'ER THE TUMULT

TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

HE LEADETH ME

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

JESUS I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN

 

 

 

Highly Recommended Reading

 

LECTURES TO MY STUDENTS by C.H. Spurgeon
(When following this link, select the author: "Spurgeon, Charles Haddon")

Chapters 1-4:

The Minister's Self-Watch

The Call To The Ministry

The Preacher's Private Prayer

Our Public Prayer

 

 

 

Are you looking for a theological seminary that teaches from a Reformed and Puritan emphasis?

Learn more about Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI., USA.

 

 

 

Please email comments, suggestions, and/or questions to gijsbert.j.vandenbogerd@hotmail.com

 

http://www.redemptivehistory.org

©2006 Christian Missions

 

 

 

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you."
(2 Thessalonians 3:1)