[Monday Disciple] Absolute Surrender Book Report by Johanna Kim > 제자학교

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Johanna Kim | Monday Disciple Class (English)

Book Report: Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray

“Are you willing to surrender yourselves absolutely into His hands?” Andrew Murray's Absolute Surrender calls believers to yield every part of their lives fully to God. Murray argues that partial obedience prevents Christians from experiencing the fullness of God's power and peace. The book centers on the idea that true spiritual growth begins when a person relinquishes control and trusts God completely–not only in major decisions, but in daily thoughts, desires, and actions. Murray portrays surrender not as loss, but as a pathway to blessing and a fruitful life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Absolute Surrender illustrates what Jesus meant when He told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24-25). The first section that deeply spoke to me was Chapter 1, where Murray explains that God both expects and accomplishes our surrender. He writes, “God does not ask you to give the perfect surrender in your strength, or by the power of your will; God is willing to work it in you.” Murray reassures readers that surrender is not achieved through human effort alone–God Himself enables it. He also emphasizes that God accepts our surrender: “You may not feel it, you may not realize it, but God takes possession if you will trust Him.”

Another point I appreciate is Murray's reminder that God maintains our surrender. By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, a life of surrender is not only our calling but a real possibility. As he writes, “Let us believe that God will maintain it… Such a life has two sides — on the one side, absolute surrender to work what God wants you to do; on the other side, to let God work what He wants to do.” Murray stresses that surrender is sustained by God, and that this posture of yielding brings blessing: “This absolute surrender to God will wonderfully bless.”

I was especially moved by the chapter titled “Impossible with Man, Possible with God.” Murray acknowledges that absolute surrender is impossible through human strength alone. Yet what is impossible for man is possible with God: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Though the world is filled with sin and opposition, Christ reigns victorious. Murray encourages readers to rest in Christ's supremacy and to patiently wait on God, trusting His power to accomplish what we cannot.

Finally, Murray's closing address to Christian workers contains what feel like precious pearls of wisdom for my life and ministry. He begins with the reminder that “Everything depends on our being right ourselves in Christ.” First, absolute dependence on God is essential: “Learn to be nothing, learn to be helpless… Absolute dependence upon God is the secret of all power in work.” Second, deep restfulness in Christ is vital, for intimacy with Him fuels true service: “For the closer your contact with Christ the more of the Spirit of His zeal and love will be borne in upon you.” Murray also cautions that activity is not the same as fruitfulness. Just as a branch receives life from the vine, believers must continually receive Christ's Spirit in order to bear lasting fruit. He concludes with a beautiful invitation to closeness with God: to worship, trust, love, and wait upon Him, rejoicing that we belong to the everlasting Vine.