To give in means to stop continuing with your own strength and give all initiative
completely to the third party. To give in means to be defeated and to lose everything,
which is thought of as losing future and dream.

On 1945, August 15th, Japan unconditionally surrendered and gave the initiative to
the Allied Forces. At that time, most of the Japanese thought, “Japan has lost the war
and gave in, it will become a country treated like slaves that has no hope or future; a
miserable country.” However, ever since the day of unconditional surrender, it can be
said that days of peace and prosperity had begun in Japan. Before that day, even
Japan, being such a small country, competed with the other big countries, battled many
wars, losing countless precious lives, and became poor and miserable. However, ever
since that day of surrender, Japan turned into a country of peace and wealth.

Japanese like the phrase “ganbaru”, which means work hard by one's own strength. And
the opposite word, “giving in” we do not like. However, the Bible says that things that
seem invaluable to us are virtuous. To stop “ganbaru” with our own strength, giving in
everything to Jesus and to completely obey His word is the absolute way to live in
peace and prosperity.

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You may be battling in your life. Then maybe, this month we remember the day of
the end of war, as a day of unconditional surrender; why don’t you consider the
blessing of giving in? If we give every initiative into the hands of the Lord Jesus and
obey His Word, our battle becomes His battle. The Lord Jesus will never be defeated
even it seems like so, yet because He is the Lord Almighty, the Victorious Warrior. Let’s
surrender all to Him and walk by faith!

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Pastor Takeshi