On Saturday, we looked at abandonment as descriptive of consecration. Today, we continue by looking at other terms that describe what consecration is. Remember, there is no entire sanctification (God’s work) without entire consecration (man’s work).
“Surrender” implies the cessation of rebellion. Of course the sinner, to be converted, must surrender, and does surrender. And you have already surrendered in that way. This refers to the surrender from committing acts of sin. Yet there is a self-life or a self-will that shrinks more or less from the will of God until we enter the Canaan of entire sanctification. Canaan is often used to describe someone who has been sanctified. Referencing the children of Israel being delivered from Pharaoh’s bondage. Life in Egypt typified the unsaved in bondage to sin. Crossing the Red Sea symbolizes being born again. Crossing the Jordan into the promised land, that is Canaan symbolizes being entirely sanctified.
The rebellion we speak of that needs to be surrendered takes the form of refusing or objecting to some of the Lord’s ways with us. For example, we may feel a call to special service—to the ministry, or to the missionary service, or to personal work—and we may have mapped out an entirely different life for ourselves and hate to submit to God’s leadings.
Surrender of the will is a part of the consecration. There can be no inner soul rest so long as our wills pull us one way and God’s will pulls us another. When Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden light he meant it is easy if we pull with him, not against him. How can two walk together except they be agreed? Then lay your will down; or, rather, actively, enthusiastically, delightedly will that God’s will be done in and with you.
The question today, where are you? Are you still in bondage in Egypt? Have you left Egypt, but are you wandering in the wilderness? Or, have you entered the blessed Canaan?
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