The Joy and Peace Of A Surrendered Heart

March 16

"At that time Jesus answered and said,
'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent
and have revealed them to babes.'"
Matthew 11:25

The wise and prudent of this world are steeped in the precepts of the world, and their goals are the promotion of self ...always. More riches, more power, more acknowledgment.

You can't have it both ways. The principles of the Kingdom of God are the opposite from the principles of the world, and entry into the Kingdom of God requires the death of man's pride. That's something that those who are wise in the things of the world and those who have made a name for themselves cannot even begin to understand. So God indeed has revealed his truths to the lowly.

"For you see your calling, brethren,
that not many wise according to the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called."
1 Corinthians 1:26

Consider carefully your ways. If your intentions in life are to gain wealth and honor, you can easily make yourself ineligible for the Kingdom of God. Entry into the Kingdom of God requires humility and surrender. Not everyone can do that. The death of pride is very difficult. For many ...too difficult.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'Assuredly, I say to you
that it is hard for a rich man
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.'"
Matthew 19:23-24

That does not mean that a rich person cannot enter the Kingdom of God, it is only saying that for that person it's going to be very difficult. It will cost him his pride, and for the rich that's nearly impossible.

There is no peace like the peace of a surrendered heart. When you surrender pride you're not losing, you're gaining - more than you could ever imagine.