Surrender to God's Will 2/6
Day 2 of 6: The Love That Surrenders
This is Day 2 of "Surrender to God’s Will." Missed Day 1? [Start here] to learn about surrendering to God.
What if obedience isn't about duty, but about love?
When Jesus was asked for the greatest commandment, He didn't point to a rule—He pointed to a relationship. The Great Commandment reveals that surrender to God's will flows naturally from a heart overwhelmed by His love.
Day 2: The Love That Surrenders
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" - Matthew 22:36-40
Quickstart (1 Minute Commitment)
Today's Verse: Matthew 22:36-40 - "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
Hebrew Word: לֵב (lev) - "heart." In Hebrew thought, the heart is not just the seat of emotion, but the center of the entire person—intellect, will, and emotions. To love God with all your heart means to surrender your entire being to Him.
Reflection Question: How does viewing obedience as an act of love, rather than a duty, change your perspective?
Prayer: "Lord, I confess that I often see your commands as burdens. Help me to see them as invitations to love you more deeply. Teach me to obey not out of obligation, but out of a heart overflowing with love for you."
Story Time (5 Minute Commitment)
Corrie ten Boom and her family were watchmakers in Haarlem, Holland, during World War II. As Christians, they believed that their love for God compelled them to love their neighbors, and they saw the Jewish people as their neighbors. When the Nazis began rounding up Jews, the ten Booms didn't hesitate. They built a secret room in their home to hide Jews and members of the Dutch resistance.
This was not a one-time act of bravery; it was a daily surrender. Every knock on the door, every German soldier on the street, was a test of their commitment. They knew that if they were caught, they would face imprisonment or death. Yet, for years, they chose to risk their lives for others, motivated by their love for God and His people.
Eventually, they were betrayed and arrested. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. There, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, their love-driven obedience continued. They held secret Bible studies, shared their meager rations, and forgave their captors. Betsie died in the camp, but Corrie survived. Her life after the war was a testimony to the power of a love that surrenders all. She traveled the world, preaching a message of forgiveness and reconciliation, all rooted in the simple, profound obedience of loving God and neighbor.
Takeaway: The ten Booms' story shows us that the greatest acts of surrender are not born from a sense of duty, but from a heart captivated by love. When we truly love God, obedience is no longer a chore; it is the natural expression of our relationship with Him.
Deep Dive (15+ Minutes)
Relational and Covenantal Focus: The Heart of the Law
When Jesus was asked for the greatest commandment, He didn't point to a rule or a regulation. He pointed to a relationship. His answer reveals that the entire law, all 613 commands in the Old Testament, can be summed up in one word: love. This reframes obedience from a legalistic duty to a relational response.
The Shema
Jesus was quoting the Shema, from Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This was the central prayer of Judaism, recited every morning and evening. It was the bedrock of their covenant relationship with God. By identifying this as the greatest commandment, Jesus was reminding them that their relationship with God was meant to be one of love, not just legal observance.
Love as the Motivator
First John 4:19 says, "We love because he first loved us." Our love for God is a response to His overwhelming, unconditional love for us. This is the engine of obedience. When we are secure in His love, we are free to surrender our will to His, not out of fear of punishment, but out of a desire to please the One we love.
The Covenantal Context
The Bible is the story of God making covenants with His people—a series of promises and commitments that bind them together. From Noah to Abraham to Moses to David, these covenants were all about relationship. The New Covenant, sealed in the blood of Jesus, is the ultimate expression of this. God doesn't just give us a set of rules; He gives us Himself. Our obedience is our side of the covenant, our faithful response to His faithfulness.
Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
Jesus immediately connects loving God to loving our neighbor. The two are inseparable. You cannot claim to love God, whom you cannot see, if you do not love your neighbor, whom you can see (1 John 4:20). Our surrender to God's will is lived out in our relationships with others. It's in the daily choices to forgive, to serve, to be patient, and to show compassion that we demonstrate our love for God.
Optional Language Learning
Hebrew Context: לֵב (lev) and נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh)
•לֵב (lev) - Heart: As mentioned, this is the center of the person. It's the seat of our will, our intellect, and our emotions. When we love God with all our heart, we are holding nothing back.
•נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) - Soul/Life: This word is often translated as "soul," but it more accurately means "life force" or "the whole person." It's the animating principle of our being. To love God with all your nephesh means to love Him with every fiber of your existence.
The Great Commandment is a call to total, all-encompassing love and surrender.
Optional Journal Reflection
Who is a "neighbor" in your life that is difficult to love? How can you show them God's love this week?
In what ways have you been treating God's commands as a checklist rather than an invitation to a deeper relationship?
What is one practical way you can express your love for God today, outside of your regular spiritual disciplines?
Share Your Thoughts
The ten Boom family's story shows love-driven obedience in action. When have you seen someone's love for God expressed through costly obedience? How has understanding the Great Commandment changed your perspective on following God's will? Share your insights below.
Coming Tomorrow...
Can surrendering your will to someone else actually make you more free? Tomorrow we'll explore the paradox of freedom and discover why the constraints of God's will are actually the path to true liberation.
Don't miss Day 3: The Freedom in Surrender - why God's boundaries set us free.
This is Day 2 of our 6-day series "Surrender to God's Will." [Day 1] | Coming Tomorrow: Day 3 - The Freedom in Surrender