Surrender Leads To Worship

Surrender can be a difficult thing to do, especially for those of us who like the idea of being in control. We wake up with our to-do lists, plans, agendas, and chores. We think we can handle it all because we have power over our individual lives. I have been known to fall into that category. I see tasks that need to be done and I go about accomplishing them and checking them off my list without ever consulting anyone, especially God.

When we believe we have control over our lives, we give ourselves power that we necessarily do not have. We do not have the power to truly change anything. We do not have the power to make someone do something. Nor do we have the power to see what is ahead and be ready to react accordingly. We think we have power but in truth we are simply going through our day reacting to circumstances as they arise. Sometimes they are good things that bring us joy and other times they are disasters that we feel the urge to quickly clean up and sweep them under the rug.

In Revelation 4 we get a glimpse of God’s throne room. We see God sitting on His throne with brilliant colors surrounding Him and flashes of lightning and thunder. Around God’s throne are 24 other thrones. Those who are sitting in the thrones are dressed in white robes and are adorned with crowns of gold on their heads. Imagine this, God’s throne room full of its splendor and majesty and these 24 thrones filled with 24 elders who are reigning with Christ. These are elders who have power alongside God. The elders are believed to be the 12 patriarchs (the 12 sons of Jacob) and Jesus’s 12 apostles. They have accomplished their mission and are now seated surrounding the throne and are reigning alongside Jesus. They are washed with His righteousness and are placed with the power of monarchy, wearing a crown.

The first thing that comes to my mind is worthiness and power. When you see a crown on a person’s head that usually means they have some form of title, authority, or power. If we move down to Revelation 4:10, we then see what these 24 elders do, they fall down before the One who is seated on the throne, lay their crowns before the throne and worship God forever and ever. This is what they say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

Do you see that they lay down their crowns? Everything they worked for, all their accomplishments, their need for control, even their failures are placed at the feet of God and are forgotten about. The only thing that matters to them is that they worship the One seated on the throne forever and ever. That is astonishing to me. The 24 elders surrender everything over to God and do not think twice about it.

It makes me ask this question, if 24 men wearing crowns of authority and seated on thrones next to God can surrender it all, why can’t I? These 24 elders remind us that God is worthy of our surrender and without truly surrendering to God daily we cannot worship and praise Him daily.

True surrender takes us placing everything in God’s hands the second we wake up every morning. It is not a one and done kind of thing. It is every morning and then constantly throughout the day to remind ourselves that we are not in control, God is. When we live out a life of true surrender, then and only then can we live out a life of true worship, trust, and faithfulness.

We can trust that God is on His throne and is in control of all things. He is the Creator of all, made everything into being, and has the sovereign power to see His plan of salvation followed through. He loves you and me; can we reciprocate that love by trusting in Him and surrendering every detail of our life to Him?

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

“Humber yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Digging Deeper:

Read Revelation 4

What crown are you holding onto that you need to lay at the throne of God?