Years ago at a business luncheon, a well-respected millionaire got up to share his testimony. He said, “I owe it all to the Lord. When I was young, I felt God call me to surrender everything I had. So I did! And now look at me; I’m blessed, but first, I surrendered everything.” Someone from the back of the room called out, “I challenge you to do it again!” And then there was silence.

I share this story because it still convicts me. When we’re young, it’s easier to think of surrendering what we have – because we don’t have much. But as we get older, we have a little more, and it’s harder to surrender it all to God. But the truth is, we will all be called to surrender at one point or another. The Christian walk is about surrendering. And it all comes down to our hearts: are we ready to give up everything for Jesus Christ, if that’s what we’re called to do? 

Jesus says in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” As you hear this message, consider what you would surrender in order to follow God.                

This is Luis Palau.