So Render

In just three days, we'll begin treatment number seven. I am curious to see what my blood counts will be, especially since I was more fatigued this past week than I have been in weeks past. There were a few other things going on this week that we'll be asking the doctor about. Still God is good and has continued to bless my days. I continue to be reminded of my weakness, then seeing his strength manifested in me in so many ways. And you all continue to be God's encouragement to me and Cynthia. Thank you. Please remember the others I have asked you to pray for, and add two more: Emmett who has a brain tumor, and a friend of my sister who also is suffering with colorectal cancer. I know prayer works for we have seen evidence.

Today was a good day. Not that preceding days had been bad days, I just feel the need to state that today was a good day, although it really ought to go without saying. The sky was overcast most of the day, with a gentle rain falling early this morning, and showers later in the day. And a great day worshipping: powerful songs and praise offered up to God and a most inspiring message from Jonah 3. Some key words or phrases: image, surrender, speaking truth, love, second chances, grace. As I sat and listened, taking notes, three items came to mind.  I will try to explain.

The first thing I thought of was Jesus, when the Pharisees attempted to trap him about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar.  Knowing their hearts, Jesus asked to see the coin for paying the tax, and asked them to tell whose image was on the coin.  When they answered him "Caesar's," he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21)

Interesting word, render.  In the English Stnadard Version, it is used in at least 28 verses.  According to my Dictionary.com app, there are no less than twenty-one possible definitions.  Six of the twenty-one are most appropriate for this discussion:  1) to return, to make a payment as by a tenant to a superior; 2) to pay as due (tax or tribute); 3) to represent, depict; 4) to bring out the meaning of by performance or execution; 5) to give back; 6) to give up, surrender.

Jesus gave a lesson in our civic duty by illustrating the rightness of obedience to the civil government and acknowledged a separation between the earthly, temporal authority and the kingdom of heaven that he was announcing.  But there is more than that here.

We all are made in God's image, and as God's image bearers, we are charged with showing forth that image to a lost people.  We are commanded to go, to bear that image and carry a message of grace - God's love borne in the truth that he is holy and his holiness requires justice.  In his love, he satisfied justice by Christ's death on the cross.  But still we sin, and others around us sin.  We grieve God and break his heart because of our disobedience.  Do we feel that grief?  Are we broken hearted for our sin?

Jonah was given a second chance to take God's message of judgment and call to repentance.  We, too, have a second chance as long as it is today.  Bear his image boldly.  Repent of sin and turn to him.  Speak his good news of grace and peace to people, who need to hear that God shows mercy to those who call on him.  Live his gospel - show mercy and grace - surrender to his abundant love that it may overflow your heart and life.

Surrender.  So render.

In 1978, the group Cheap Trick from Rockford, IL released "Surrender," a song from their Heaven Tonight album.  It concerns a discussion between the teens of that generation and their "weird" parents, culminating in a refrain of "we're all alright" to end the song.  In 2009, the Christian parody band Apologetix include "So Render (to Caesar)" from their album Recovery.  Their parody concerned the Matthew passage above, but linking the two ideas, surrender and so render seemed so perfect.

We cannot do what we are called by Go to do.  Even at our best, we are still fallen creatures, sinning on our way.  But we know the One who by his blood can make even the foulest clean.  We might acknowledge our sin and thus our need of him.  But do we get the depths of our sin?  Is it bitter to us?  There is, I think the key.

We must surrender to God - everyday.  Our old nature must be put to death (another good song, this one by Petra, called "Killing My Old Man" about putting to death your old nature) each day, and sometimes several times a day as we seek to live according to the new creation we are becoming in Christ Jesus.  When we surrender, we then, and only then, can render to God according to that which he has called and enabled us to do.  We are blessed then to return our lives as a tribute, to represent him more perfectly, to bring out his good news, to give back his praises, and to be able to surrender at all.

So - may you be blessed by God to surrender and then render according to his work in your life that all may wonder at his mercy, peace and love.  Amen.