{"id":25069,"date":"2025-04-15T09:52:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/?p=25069"},"modified":"2025-04-15T10:23:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:23:24","slug":"25069","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/?p=25069","title":{"rendered":"Surrendering All"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Here I Am, Lord \u2013 Dan Schutte [OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z4ATBaI7ycY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Episcopal priest and CAC faculty emeritus Cynthia Bourgeault describes how we can follow the path of descent Jesus models:<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Jesus everything hangs together around a single center of gravity\u2026. In Greek the verb&nbsp;<em>kenosein&nbsp;<\/em>means \u201cto let go,\u201d or \u201cto empty oneself,\u201d and this is the word Paul chooses at the key moment in his celebrated teaching in Philippians 2:5\u201311 in order to describe what \u201cthe mind of Christ\u201d is all about\u2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this beautiful hymn, Paul recognizes that Jesus had only one \u201coperational mode.\u201d <strong>Everything he did, he did by self-emptying.<\/strong> He emptied himself and descended into human form. And he emptied himself still further (\u201ceven unto death on the cross\u201d) and fell through the bottom to return to the realms of dominion and glory. In whatever life circumstance, <strong>Jesus always responded with the same motion of self-emptying\u2014or to put it another way, with the same motion of&nbsp;<em>descent:&nbsp;<\/em>going lower, taking the lower place, not the higher\u2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a path he himself walked to the very end. In the garden of Gethsemane, with his betrayers and accusers massing at the gates, <strong>he struggled and anguished but remained true to his course. Do not hoard, do not cling\u2014not even to life itself. Let it go, let it be<\/strong>\u2014\u201cNot my will but yours be done, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thus he came and thus he went, giving himself fully into life and death, losing himself, squandering himself, \u201cgambling away every gift God bestows.\u201d It was not love stored up but love utterly poured out that opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over and over, Jesus lays this path before us. <strong>There is nothing to be renounced or resisted. Everything can be embraced, but the catch is to cling to nothing. You let it go. You go through life like a knife goes through a done cake, picking up nothing, clinging to nothing, sticking to nothing<\/strong>. And grounded in that fundamental chastity of your being, <strong>you can then throw yourself out, pour yourself out, being able to give it all back, even giving back life itself. That\u2019s the kenotic path in a nutshell. Very, very simple. It only costs everything. <\/strong>[1]&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Depth psychologist and contemplative author David Benner considers Jesus a model of surrendering to God\u2019s will:<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Christ is the epitome of life lived with willingness. \u201cYour will be done,\u201d he prayed in what we call the Lord\u2019s Prayer (Matthew 6:10). And more than just in prayer, he&nbsp;<em>lived<\/em>&nbsp;this posture of preferring God\u2019s will to his own. Christian spirituality is following Christ in this self-abandonment. It is following his example of willing surrender\u2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>abundant life promised us in Christ comes not from grasping but from releasing.<\/strong> It comes not from striving but from relinquishing. It comes not so much from taking as from giving. <strong>Surrender is the foundational dynamic of Christian freedom\u2014surrender of my efforts to live my life outside of the grasp of God\u2019s love and surrender to God\u2019s will and gracious Spirit.<\/strong> [2]&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Our vocations\u2014our everyday jobs, responsibilities, and societal roles\u2014are sacred callings in which we are meant to glorify God and serve others. Whether someone is a teacher or technician, stay-at-home parent or CEO, every disciple of Jesus can actively participate in His Kingdom mission through their vocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dismantling the Sacred vs. Secular Divide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A long-standing misconception in the church is that ministry is inherently more spiritual than a so-called \u201csecular job.\u201d Thankfully, this thinking is fading, especially among younger generations who are eager to see their work tied to eternal purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Martin Luther argued that the idea that only clergy served God was \u201cthe worst trick of the devil.\u201d Instead, he insisted that cobblers, smiths, and farmers were as consecrated as priests when they served their neighbor through their trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luther and the Reformers emphasized that all vocations\u2014from parenting to farming, teaching to governing\u2014are ways God serves humanity through His people. Gene Edward Veith later expanded on this, showing that when we pray for daily bread, God answers through farmers, truck drivers, and grocers. When we need healing, He often works through doctors and nurses. When we learn or grow, He uses teachers, pastors, mentors, and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Jack Hayford put it, <strong>the divide is not between sacred and secular in God\u2019s mind. It\u2019s between light and darkness. God wants to \u201cseed the Earth\u201d with sons and daughters of light\u2014in every arena of culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Redefining Vocation: From Job to Calling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The English word \u201cvocation\u201d stems from the Latin word&nbsp;<em>vocatio<\/em>, meaning \u201ccalling.\u201d In this sense, your vocation is far more than your job title or career path. It\u2019s a divine invitation to participate with God in His work on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luther taught that every believer\u2019s vocation\u2014whether in the home, church, market, or government\u2014was a form of priestly service. We are each placed strategically by God to love our neighbors, meet real needs, and bring His light into every space we inhabit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>William Perkins, a Puritan leader, described calling as \u201ca certain kind of life ordained and imposed on man by God, for the common good.\u201d Veith added that every legitimate kind of work is a \u201cmask of God\u201d\u2014an avenue through which God blesses others, often hidden behind human hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you bring comfort, make decisions, serve others, produce value, or build anything that helps your community\u2014you are partnering with God.<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re a milkmaid or a business owner, it\u2019s all holy ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vocational DNA: Five God-Given Traits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each field of work\u2014whether education, business, arts, technology, medicine, or beyond\u2014contains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>God-Given Competence<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Each vocation comes with gifts and skills that are unique expressions of God\u2019s creativity and power. For example, tech professionals serve by fixing our gadgets, and emergency workers bring order and rescue in moments of crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Distinct Products and Services<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Every field contributes real solutions to meet real needs in the world. Fuel workers help power homes and cars. Media professionals inform, inspire, and sometimes even save lives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unique Impact Range<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Some vocations have wide-reaching influence, like performing artists or politicians. Others are more intimate but no less important, like homeschooling parents or local shopkeepers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Collaborative Relationships<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Each vocation invites teamwork. From surgical units to athletic teams, collaboration builds both friendships and stronger results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Specialized Mission<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Finally, each field has a unique mission to bless others. Government is meant to protect and provide justice. The Church exists to disciple and evangelize. All work done unto the Lord is valuable and has Kingdom impact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>God\u2019s Character on Display in Every Vocation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Technology<\/strong>&nbsp;reveals His omniscience and power. Every notification or GPS signal reminds us of God\u2019s capacity to know and guide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creation and Environment<\/strong>&nbsp;reflect His artistry. From the structure of a sunflower to the orbit of the Earth, God reveals Himself as both architect and artist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Government<\/strong>&nbsp;shows His leadership, justice, and mercy\u2014pointing to the coming Kingdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parenting and Family<\/strong>&nbsp;reflect His nurture, creativity, and loving discipline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even construction points back to the Master Builder, who gave Noah detailed blueprints for the ark and called skilled laborers to build the Tabernacle.<strong> Every field is a canvas for His glory.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This Is Not Just a Job\u2014It\u2019s God\u2019s Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re leading a company or fixing plumbing, writing code or raising children, your work is a sacred trust. You are God\u2019s representative in your vocation. When you serve with love, excellence, and faithfulness, you bear witness to the One who called you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This vocational vantage point changes how we think, serve, and lead. It dismantles false divisions, elevates all kinds of work, and invites every follower of Jesus to see their 9-to-5 as an altar of worship. <strong>It\u2019s not a career\u2014it\u2019s a calling.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Episcopal priest and CAC faculty emeritus Cynthia Bourgeault describes how we can follow the path of descent Jesus models:&nbsp; In Jesus everything hangs together around a single center of gravity\u2026. In Greek the verb&nbsp;kenosein&nbsp;means \u201cto let go,\u201d or \u201cto empty oneself,\u201d and this is the word Paul chooses at the key moment in his celebrated [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25069"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25075,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069\/revisions\/25075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/co2mannatoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}