ESOCS Devotional 13 May 2025 – Total Surrender to God
MEMORY VERSE: “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying …” Revelation 4:10
TEXT: REVELATION 4:1-11
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honour and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
Repentance and forgiveness of sin bring salvation. It is not enough to repent and be forgiven. This is because no one by righteous practice alone can please God. God has a standard of righteousness and He alone determines who can please Him in righteousness. In Isaiah 64:6, we see this submission from Amplified Bible: “For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] uncleaBeloved, God is the Supreme Owner of all the universe. He made all things for His pleasure. The best His creatures can do is to abide in His will. To do that is to humbly surrender our all to Him completely.
In our memory verse, some actions were put forth by the glorious four and twenty Elders before the throne of God to demonstrate total surrender to God. Total surrender to God is to humbly submit all to God for His pleasure and glory. Anyone in total surrender to God is in true worship of Him. Those actions of the twenty four Elders form a great lesson to us on surrendering to God.
- Fall down before Him that sat on the throne: The four and twenty Elders fell down before God in total submission and humility. This act is to acknowledge that God is indeed above all and none can equal Him in glory or any other consideration. He deserves to be submitted to by all – spirit beings, humans and any other creatures. So, a very vital ingredient of total surrender to God is true and sincere humility that acknowledges the greatness of God. Another vital ingredient is full unreserved and conscious submission to that greatness. The imagery of falling down can also mean in essence, “Before you and without you I am nothing.” In this state, our worship becomes real and complete.
- Cast their crowns before the throne: The twenty four Elders cast their crowns (the symbol of authority, power, glory, honour and sovereignty) before the throne of God after they fell down before Him. This is the posture of one who thinks nothing of his worldly, human and secular glories before God. It also demonstrates that “All that I am and possess belong to you.” All my achievements, trophies, awards, accolades, titles, wealth, physical looks and the glory of them, I submit to you. This is difficult to do. Because we unconsciously hold onto what we believe we are or earned for self-preservation, even before God. For example, some people for their status, as common as it sounds, will not dance before God; not because they don’t know how to dance but for who they are in secular
life.
Beloved, anyone that has consecrated his heart with the above two crucial pillars is a ready and valuable vessel totally surrendered to the will of God. It’s important you do likewise, so you can serve effectively in the Kingdom of God.
CHALLENGES
- In which area of your life and lifestyle are you finding it difficult to surrender to God?
PRAYER POINT
- Father God have mercy on and help me by the Holy Spirit to surrender totally to You!
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 3:1-end; l 4:1-end; Revelation 5:1-8
ESOCS Devotional 13 May 2025
