“We are either completely His or not at all; there is no in-between, only constant surrender.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 15, 2025
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8
There is a subtle owner that stalks everyone—sometimes trying to reclaim what Christ claimed when you surrendered to His Lordship, or reaffirming what has always been held by vain idols. As Jesus reminds us, the man who is owned by his money is foolish, or the woman possessed by her beauty is vain. Short-sighted is the person who is owned by their good health and gifts, when we know the Lord is the giver of our well-being, wealth, and skills. The Lord God owns all of us: body, soul, spirit, and possessions. We are either completely His or not at all; there is no in-between, only constant surrender. We belong to the Lord in this life and the next.
Honestly, giving up ownership is difficult because we naturally say, “I worked hard for this, what do you mean it’s not mine?” Still, deep in our hearts, we know that without God’s grace, we wouldn’t experience His rich blessings. Yet, a constant battle remains for me to hold onto my possessions! My ownership seems to gradually fade away; only by daily surrendering my life to the Lord can I walk in the freedom of being a steward of my Master, Jesus Christ.
I heard a wise business owner, Alan Barnhardt, say, “He feared money.” What did he mean by “fearing money”? This is a respected leader who has legally given his business to God, yet he still has a plan to avoid falling into a subtle love affair with money. In his talk, he alluded to 1 Timothy 6:9-11, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare… For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Wow, warnings on how money can cause us to: 1) Fall into temptations, 2) Be rooted in all kinds of evil, 3) Stray from the faith, 4) Be pierced by sorrow—at least four compelling reasons to develop a plan to resist money’s allure and its subtle control. Giving over ownership to God frees you to be a faithful manager.
What is your plan to genuinely surrender everything to God? If, in fact, everything already belongs to the Lord, what is stopping you from accepting the reality of His compassionate control? Start with honest inventory: what do you hold tightly—career success, financial security, relationships, reputation? Begin releasing one area at a time through prayer and action. Fear often prevents acknowledgment of God’s control—fear of loss, change, or vulnerability. Practice daily surrender through morning prayers, giving thanks for His provision, and making decisions that show trust rather than self-reliance. Remember that letting go isn’t losing control—it’s realizing you never had it. His compassionate control means safety, not restriction; freedom, not captivity. When you trust in the Lord’s ownership over your life, peace will rule over you.
Whether you live or die, you are the Lord’s, so enjoy the fruits of being His steward of your life, and find the great joy of saying out loud, you are your Beloved’s, beloved. Since He loves you perfectly, His Spirit will guide you in just what you need, when you need it. Resist making things happen and wait on the Lord to orchestrate His blueprint for your life. Abraham Kuyper, in his Sphere Sovereignty speech, 1880 (at the inauguration of the Free University of Amsterdam), says with dramatic flair, “There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign overall, does not cry: Mine!” Bow a knee to your Master, Jesus Christ, knowing He is already Lord overall, in this life and in the next. Amen. Amen.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1, NKJV).
Prayer
Lord, I surrender all that I am and all that I have to You. My life, my time, my possessions—everything is Yours. Teach me faithful stewardship and joyful trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What area of your life needs a fresh surrender to your Lord’s ownership?
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 10:14; Ezekiel 18:4; Haggai 2:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Worship Resource
Celine Dion and Jelly Roll: The Cross Was Enough
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