“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my Rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” (Psalm 31:1-5)
“…and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When He had said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:45, 46)
Again, Jesus speaks words of Scripture from the cross. It is another key that gives us some insight into His suffering and how He finds strength within it. When we look at the Psalm that is on His mind in His final moments we can see that this is a passage declaring trust and faith. What may seem on the surface to be an attitude of simple surrender to His fate is act of submission to a His Father. One surrenders when they are beaten. It acknowledges weakness in the light of a greater strength. But, submission is an act of strength that shows a trust in One with a greater plan and a willingness to follow that plan.
Jesus was not “giving up” because Satan had won and He was beaten…quite the opposite was true. Jesus was not “giving in” because Satan was stronger…also not true. Jesus was “giving over” His life to the Father in an act of trust that can only come from an intimate relationship with some one.
This phrase from the cross can give us a great lesson on how we can respond in times when our faith is inconvenient. When we encounter suffering on our journey how can we find strength? These words of Jesus speak volumes. The key is submission.
First, submission starts with relationship. Jesus says, “Father”. You can’t submit without trust and you can’t have trust without relationship. Jesus knew who was in control of His life and had an assurance that His Father would never let Him down. Paul said this when he suffered,
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
Second, submission requires a willingness to let go and let God…”into Your hands”. You must daily turn your life over to the God who loves you. We must pray these words every day as a commitment to follow Christ each moment.
Today meditate on your relationship to God. Read again the words of the Psalm above and follow the example of Jesus and use it as a prayer today…Father, into your hands…