"All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give.

I will ever love and trust Him; In His presence daily live."

I surrender, I freely give, I Will love, I Will trust, (I Will) in His presence daily live.

The writer of this song apparently had high aspirations and goodly desires; he may have proposed to do all that this verse portrays. I find this first verse a bit alarming, what with all the Is and I wills. . . even the second stanza: "Worldly pleasures all forsaken," seems a great task for one to take upon himself. However the remainder of the song comes somewhat to his rescue: "Humbly at His feet I bow; Make me Savior wholly thine; I give myself to Thee; Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit; Fill me with Thy love and power...

I Surrender All? What of the "Time" element? He cannot mean the past, for it cannot be retrieved nor re-lived, nor corrected. He cannot be referring to the future for God alone knows what it will be. Surely he would not be so bold or self-assured as to speak of a "blanket" surrender. "I don't know what the future holds, but whatever it is, I surrender all!" "I surrender all must speak only of this very moment. Five minutes from now some incident, circumstance or temptation may confront me. Will I with full assurance face it and proclaim "I surrender all?" How shall I surrender anything at all except it be by the Grace of God and by the Spirit of Christ? Many things I might ask for, but this one – shall I not leave it in the hands of my Heavenly Father; leave it to His discretion; allow Him to determine what Grace I am in need of, and when I need it? Consider the message of Hebrews 4: 15-16: “. . .touched with the feeling of our infirmities. . .” “Let us come boldly [ in and because of our infirmities] to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.” Again, because of our infirmities!

If Grace is unmerited favor then may we not well say that it is more than some thing that the Father has imparted? Consider the testimony of Christ when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment: "I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." When our Lord is imparting Grace to us, must we not know that He is giving of Himself!?! But we believe that He will be gracious to us. And this is a Blessed Hope, confirmed in Holy Writ!

But we are not left to wonder about the author of this song. His name is Judson W. Van Deventer. He died in 1935, having written other songs: Sunshine, and Precious Lord, Take My Hand. Here is the story behind the song.

For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. I taught school and eventually became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania. It was during this time in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all - my time and my talents. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service.

So - now we know the history of his song.

Much is presented to the Christian church (to the unbeliever as well) under the guise of practical Christianity - and any who will carefully, continuously, studiously and prayerfully study the scriptures may find an occasional "knot" in the stomach as he recognizes a degree of error in that which is communicated to him.

Unto you and to myself I address this most sobering question. For all the accumulated knowledge of the scriptures,(reading, hearing sermons, etc,) how much of it is solid and secured in the heart by faith; and how much is only intellectual? "I've heard it like that all my life!" And then take it for granted: "It must be right because preacher _________ says it is. What if Martin Luther had said, "Well, it must be right, because that's what the Roman Church teaches!"

We do not worship at the Vatican; we have no pope. It is the responsibility of every believer to search out the Truth for himself. When he finds it, he is to embrace it and confess it by faith. Faith is very choosy; it will only certify Truth. Anything less than Truth is presumptuous faith. One thing that is decidedly missing in today's modern church is a reasoning, a spirit of reverence whereby we meditate upon the Word of Truth. Someone will say, "I just don't have the time to meditate upon the scriptures." To which one might reply, "Sure you do! convert some of your "worry" time; instead of trying to figure out how to "live the Christian life", try studying, no, meditating on the person of Christ. It may be surprising to some, but He is the focal point of all scripture; Old and new Testament, even God the Father and God the Spirit are dedicated to making much of Him!

But it seems that the average Christian attends "church" and is informed of his duties and responsibilities to the church and he leaves distressed, not knowing how to perform what he has heard and what is being expected of him. He goes forth in the energy of the flesh, having some foggy notion that he has infused righteousness, and is bewildered in that it does not seem to work as he has been taught it would. If he dare to raise any question about his confused state he may be told, "Oh just do the best you can. That's all we expect - and that's all God expects!"

And there are numerous ways in which one may respond to an "invitation": Come, and receive Jesus into your heart; re-dedicate your heart to God; make a commitment; make a complete surrender: "I Surrender All." That "just receive Jesus" is likely to stop anyone just short of saving faith. It is the caboose at the end of the train. There must first be a Locomotion, a power that will "drive" one to comprehend his sinful condition; not only is he lost, but he has made himself the enemy of a Holy God and is in gross disobedience to the Truth. It is to such witness by the apostle Paul that Felix "trembled" though apparently refusing to believe.

“Lord, whither goeth thou?”

“Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now:”

“Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?”

“Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death”

“Thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me”

“All ye shall be offended because of me this night”

“Although all shall be offended, yet will not I”

“Thou shalt deny me thrice”

“I will not deny thee in any wise”

“Lord, I am ready to go with thee” - But he wasn’t.

“Although all be offended, yet will not I” - But he was.

“I will not deny thee in any wise” - But he did.

We have before us a classic example of a Christian who is very determined to “make a commitment unto the Lord.” “I will. . .I will not. . .I will not!” I am afraid that our dear brother Simon did not as yet understand the scriptural definition of “commitment.” I am likewise convinced that many of us are following dangerously close to his footsteps. From the outward appearance one might think to commend the disciple for his enthusiasm; yet a further study must persuade us that he was “making” a “self-commitment.” He certainly cannot be “making” it unto the Lord, for he was on the verge of a heated argument against what Christ was telling him. Can you imagine! Face to face with the very Son of God, telling Him that He is wrong? “Listen Lord, I know my heart, my desires, my abilities: You don’t know what You’re talking about!” Really?

But we would never do anything like that. . .would we? Perhaps it would be time well spent if we took a careful look into the scriptures concerning this “commitment” thing.

Any “commitment” we may make is unfounded and cannot please God unless it is “made” in Faith. And Faith must have an object. That being nothing less than the Lord Jesus. Faith verily originates from Christ, moves, establishes Christ between us and our circumstances. Faith cannot do its work apart from the accomplishing of the will of God. Through it we are brought into agreement with what He wants to do.

Brother Simon’s “faith” did none of these. His was completely contrary to the will of God. He became very disagreeable! His was a Self-commitment. “This is what I think. This is what I believe. This is what I am going to do.” Our brother is relying on fleshly abilities. “Without Me ye can do nothing.”

I think that we tend to group our circumstances into at least two categories: Those in which I need the Lord, and those which I have the ability to handle myself! We may not understand our old flesh. He is not necessarily there to lead us into darkest sin. He is also very religious. He wants us to believe that we do not need the Lord every time. Why he, (that is, the old man) is well able to take care of matters! But it’s just not true. Simon Peter found this out the hard way.

The Lord has given us numerous examples in the scriptures. Let’s look at some ( there are doubtless many more, but these are most obvious.)

“I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause” Job 5:8.

May we deduce from the very onset - the first order of business is to seek the Lord. It is indeed a prevailing factor in all that is presented here. But let us be reminded: our seeking Him is not for the purpose of expressing our will, but finding what is the good pleasure of His will!

Mary and Martha had a cause: “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” Lazarus was dying. Here was a cause, a circumstance that they would commit unto their Lord. I’m not sure that this even qualifies as a prayer. But can you not sense the child-like faith, the trust: “It’s broken. . .but Daddy can fix it!” Why will Jesus respond? Because Mary and Martha love Him? Because they love Lazarus? Did they inject their will into the matter: Lord, this is what we want done and the way we want it? No. “Lord, Lazarus is sick?” Again, no. It is “he whom Thou lovest! They’re trusting a person; they are assured of His love! Our love may falter and flicker as a candle; not so the steadfast love of our Lord! Notice the order: Christ is placed between Mary and Martha and the cause or circumstance ( he. . .whom thou lovest . . .is sick.) If we are to pray in faith, it is imperative that our focus be upon the person of Christ; not on the need for which we are praying, even though this reasoning may be contrary to fleshly logic.

“Into Thy hands I commit my spirit” Psalm 31:5. Does it seem unreasonable that I commit my spirit unto Him who has committed His Spirit unto me? If I am to "be filled with the Spirit," it will be far easier if my spirit is bearing witness with His Spirit!

“Commit thy way unto the Lord” Psalm 37:5. Self, get out of the driver's seat. God is not your co-pilot! Yield the reins unto Him. Not the reins of the horse - the reins of your heart! But for our stubbornness we would not need the reins. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. . ." Psalm 32:8-9.

“nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done” Luke 22:42b.

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for whatsoever He doeth. . .I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” John 5:19a,30. Likewise does our Lord say unto us: “ I AM the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” John 15:5. See the example: “The Son can do nothing of Himself:” “Without Me ye can do nothing!”

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” Proverbs 16:2,3. It is not the doing of works at our hands; it is not, Look Lord, at what I've accomplished, rather, what He has done. It is He who produces the fruit that we bare; and to the honor and good pleasure of the Husbandman.

“ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps. . .who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” I Peter 2:21,23.

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” I Peter 4:19.

Actually, this is two-fold. I am commit my suffering into His hands. Read II Corinthians 12:9,10. Paul here is committing his weakness, his infirmities, his reproaches, his persecutions - unto the Lord.

“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” II Timothy 1:12. The Apostle is clear: he is not “making a commitment,” not what he is going to do or not do: he is believing God. He is committing into His hand, into His trust. He dare not trust the arm (strength) of the flesh. Realizing his weakness, he will believe God to keep all that is entrusted to Him.

“Against that day:” that is, the glorious appearing of Christ Jesus; that day, when we shall be changed, changed forever into His likeness!

What is Bible Commitment? It is knowing a person. It is trusting a person. It is believing the testimony of that person. It is committing unto Him: It is entrusting or resting, putting to rest; rolling over, that is, from my shoulder to His; it is putting all into His hands for safekeeping.

"Lord, I want joint custody!" I'll commit into your hands as long as I can keep a hand on my life also. I've heard it said in years gone by (but not any time recently) "Take your hands off of your life." We will speak of surrendering to the Lord - but what is that tug of war that persists? "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Notice, it is not for good, for them that love God or for them who are the called. . .it is to. Understand, He is still the potter; we are still the clay. The molding of the clay is in His hands; it is being molded according to His purpose. What He is doing is to the clay, making it in His own image- and for Himself. Look at Romans 8:28 this way: It is according to His purpose. According to His purpose we are called. According to His purpose we are moved to love Him. According to His purpose, all things work together for good!

“. . .a dispensation of the gospel of grace is committed unto me” I Cor. 9:17.

“ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” II Cor. 5:19.

“ According to the glorious gospel of the Blessed God, which was committed to my trust” I Tim. 1:11.

“ But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior” Titus 1:3.

“ And the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” II Tim. 2:2.

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