At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we gather around the communion table not merely as a ritual, but as a profound moment of self-examination and renewal. As we hold the bread and cup, symbols of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, we’re confronted with a challenging truth: to receive all that Jesus offers, we must die to our old selves and trust Him completely, regardless of the cost.
This isn’t a message our culture celebrates. In a world that promotes self-preservation and personal comfort, Jesus calls us to something radically different. He invites us to follow His example of total surrender, knowing that His plan—though it may lead through valleys of shadow—ultimately leads to life. As John 10:10 (NIV) promises, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The Daily Decision of Discipleship
When we participate in communion, we’re not just remembering a historical event. We’re answering a deeply personal question: “What is the cross I need to bear today?” This question penetrates our comfortable Christianity and demands honest reflection. What area of your life have you been holding back from God? What part of your will remains unsurrendered to His purposes?
Jesus modeled this surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing the agony of the cross, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NIV). This prayer—”not my will but yours”—becomes the pattern for every follower of Christ. It’s the death of self-determination and the birth of divine submission.
At Lakeview Christian Church, our mission to “Be the Change as Jesus has Changed Us” requires this kind of radical surrender. Through our “Just 3” framework, we see how bearing our cross transforms every aspect of our spiritual journey:
Study to Love and Know God: When we study Scripture through the lens of surrender, we discover that God’s ways truly are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9 NIV). Each passage we read challenges our self-centered perspectives and calls us to align our thoughts with God’s truth. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) urges us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Share to Know and Love Others: Bearing our cross makes us authentic witnesses. When others see us choosing God’s will over our own comfort, surrendering our rights for Kingdom purposes, they witness the transforming power of the Gospel. As 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NIV) explains, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”
Serve – Love in Action: True service flows from a surrendered heart. When we’ve died to self, we’re free to serve others without seeking recognition or reward. Galatians 5:13 (NIV) instructs, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
The Paradox of the Easy Yoke
Here’s the beautiful paradox of following Jesus: the same Savior who calls us to take up our cross also promises, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).
How can bearing a cross be easy? How can dying to self bring rest? The answer lies in understanding that when we surrender our will to God’s, we’re no longer fighting against His purposes. We’re no longer exhausting ourselves trying to control outcomes or protect our interests. Instead, we’re flowing with the current of God’s perfect will, partnering with the One who holds all things together.
This doesn’t mean the path is without challenges. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV), “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But we bear these difficulties with hope, knowing that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NIV).
Living with Eternal Perspective
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we pick up our cross with hope and expectation because we remember a crucial truth: He’s coming back. This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s the blessed hope that anchors our souls. Revelation 22:12 (NIV) records Jesus saying, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
We follow Him now, bearing our cross daily, waiting for the day when we will reign with Him forever. As 2 Timothy 2:12 (NIV) promises, “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” This eternal perspective transforms our daily surrender from grudging obligation to joyful anticipation.
The Communion Challenge
So as you hold the bread and cup at Lakeview Christian Church, let them be more than symbols. Let them be catalysts for honest self-examination. What cross is God calling you to bear today? Perhaps it’s:
- Forgiving someone who deeply hurt you
- Releasing control over a situation you’ve been managing
- Stepping out in faith despite your fears
- Giving generously when resources seem scarce
- Speaking truth in love when silence would be easier
- Serving in obscurity when you crave recognition
Remember, taking up your cross isn’t a one-time event at conversion—it’s a daily choice. Jesus emphasized this in Luke 9:23 (NIV): “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Be the Change
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe that when we truly die to ourselves and live for Christ, we become agents of transformation in our community. We become the change as Jesus has changed us. Our surrendered lives become living testimonies to the power of the Gospel.
The next time you participate in communion, don’t rush through it. Hold that bread. Look at that cup. Remember the price Jesus paid. Then ask yourself: “What is my response to such love? What cross will I bear for the One who bore the ultimate cross for me?”
Pick up your cross with hope. Follow Him with expectation. Trust His plan even when it costs everything. Because on the other side of surrender lies life—abundant, eternal, glorious life with the One who loved us enough to show us the way.
