Sunday

Last week, we were confronted with a powerful question that cuts to the heart of our faith: who truly has authority over our lives? We're introduced to the concept of total surrender through the lens of Matthew 28, where Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him. The challenge presented isn't just about intellectual belief or casual church attendance—it's about the difference between negotiating with Jesus and actually obeying Him. The rock we're asked to hold becomes a tangible symbol of whatever we're still clutching in our own hands, refusing to release to God's control. Through the compelling story of missionaries learning Arabic only to be sent to a Turkish-speaking nation—and later discovering God's perfect plan to reach Syrian refugees—we see how total surrender isn't about losing control, but about gaining access to God's incomparably greater purposes. The message from Ephesians reminds us that the church isn't peripheral to the world; rather, the world is peripheral to the church. When we live totally surrendered, His presence is released in our purpose, and our purpose is released in His presence. This isn't a one-time decision but a daily posture of saying 'yes' to Jesus before we even know what He'll ask of us next.