Thursday, 8^th May 2025

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: FROM DEMANDING TO SURRENDER

THEME SCRIPTURE: “Then [the prodigal son] said, ‘Father, I have sinned… Make me like one of your hired servants.’” (Luke 15:18-19)

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. In what manner did the prodigal son return to the Father?

  The prodigal son’s demand—“Give me my share”—mirrors our rebellion: clutching rights to our time, dreams, and choices. Yet his freedom became a prison (Luke 15:13-14). Like him, we chase hollow independence, only to find ourselves starving in a “distant country” of our own making.  

Broken and penniless, the son abandoned his demands. “Make me a servant” was not self-loathing but surrender—a recognition that true belonging flows from submission. Augustine confessed, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Surrender isn’t loss; it’s homecoming.  

Jesus modeled perfect surrender: “Not My will, but Yours” (Luke 22:42). Half-hearted faith, like partial repentance, insults the cross.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship. Costly grace… is costly because it calls us to follow Christ.” To live for Him who died for us (2 Corinthians 5:15) means crucifying every claim to self-rule.  

How can we surrender daily to the will and plans of God, beloved?

First, we can pray every morning, “Jesus, I exchange my ‘give me’ for your ‘make me.’ Rule my choices today.” 

Additionally, let's learn to meditate on scripture, such as Galatians 2:20. By that, we anchor our life on scriptures.

Be intentional about all you do, surrendering to His will in each moment because He is with you. 

As Andrew Murray urged, “Absolute surrender… is the only thing that will suffice.”  

The father didn’t scold the prodigal—he ran to him (Luke 15:20). Your past demands don’t disqualify you. God’s grace meets you in the mud, but refuses to leave you there.  C.S. Lewis wrote, “The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become.” Surrender isn’t a pit—it’s a portal. Step in. His will is your liberation.

O! our God, your will is what shall be done.

FURTHER READING: Luke 15:11-32

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

QUESTION TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD

1. Are there any areas of your life- marriage, career, money, dreams, time, etc.- that you have not yet surrendered to God?

2. Would you surrender that area of your life to God today?

PRAYER

Father, I’ve clung to rights that drain life. Forgive me. Today, I trade my “my way” for Your will. Break my addiction to control. Make me a servant, a vessel, a child—wholly Yours, in Jesus' precious name. Hallelujah!

One-Year Bible Reading Plan

Romans 10; 1 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 123