Submitting to One Another
Embracing True Submission: A Path to Strength and Unity
In a world that often equates submission with weakness, we're called to embrace a radically different perspective. True submission, rooted in love and reverence for Christ, is not about losing control or diminishing our worth. Instead, it's a powerful choice to put others first, fostering unity and reflecting the heart of Jesus.
Consider the humble yield sign on the highway. It doesn't demand we stop forever, but simply asks us to let others go first. This small act of courtesy keeps traffic flowing smoothly. Similarly, biblical submission isn't about surrendering our identity or value. It's choosing to prioritize others, creating a harmonious flow in our relationships and communities.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, didn't suggest submission as an option, but commanded it: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). This isn't just for certain people – it's a calling for every follower of Jesus. It echoes Paul's words to the Philippians: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).
This upside-down kingdom perspective challenges our natural inclinations. In a culture that screams "me first," we're invited to lay down our pride and pick up love. It's not something we can achieve through sheer willpower. True submission flows from the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers us to love, forgive, encourage, and bear one another's burdens.
Jesus himself modeled perfect submission. Though fully God, he chose to take on human form, becoming a servant. He washed his disciples' feet, demonstrating that true greatness lies in serving others. Even in the face of unimaginable suffering, Jesus submitted to the Father's will in Gethsemane, praying, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Submission isn't about blind obedience or enduring abuse. It's a conscious choice to honor Christ by valuing others. We submit not because people always deserve it or are always right, but because Jesus is always worthy. When we approach submission with this heart, it transforms from mere duty into an act of worship.
Paul goes on to illustrate how submission should permeate every relationship:
- In marriage: Wives submit to husbands, not out of inferiority, but as an expression of trust in God's design. Husbands are called to an even more radical submission – loving their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
- In parenting: Children obey parents, while fathers are instructed not to provoke their children to anger, but to nurture them in the Lord's ways.
- In the workplace: Employees work diligently as if serving Christ himself, while employers treat workers with respect, remembering their own accountability to God.
When we embrace mutual submission, we experience harmony rather than hierarchy. It paves the way for unity, peace, and the favor of the Lord.
Consider the mighty redwood trees of California. These giants grow incredibly tall, not just because of their sturdy trunks, but because their roots intertwine underground, supporting each other against fierce winds. Similarly, when we submit to one another in Christian community, we find strength to weather life's storms and reach new heights of spiritual growth.
Submission also brings flexibility, like bridges designed to sway with earthquakes and high winds. This built-in give prevents collapse under pressure. When we learn to yield and bend, we become more resilient in the face of life's challenges.
The call to submission invites us to examine our hearts. Is there someone God is asking you to honor, forgive, or yield to? Is pride keeping you from unity in a relationship? Will you trust God enough to let go of control?
Embracing submission doesn't mean we instantly overcome every selfish impulse. It's a journey of growth, where God works on our hearts little by little. We don't have to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. Like stepping into a shower, we come as we are, allowing His grace to cleanse us over time.
For those struggling with addictions or destructive patterns, submission to God is the key to true freedom. While programs can offer sobriety, only Jesus can fundamentally transform desires and deliver lasting change. It's not about willpower, but about surrendering control and allowing God to work.
We must be careful not to judge others on their journey. Everyone is at a different stage in their walk with Christ. Instead of pointing fingers, we're called to focus on our own growth and extend grace to fellow believers. As Paul reminds us, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?" (Romans 14:4).
Imagine a sailboat on the open sea. Fighting against the wind leads to stalling and frustration. But when the boat submits to the wind's power, trusting its direction, it moves forward with purpose and grace. Our lives can experience that same forward momentum when we yield to God's leading and submit to one another in love.
Submission isn't about losing – it's about letting go and allowing God to lead. It's not weakness, but Christ-like strength. As we walk in humility and mutual service, the church becomes a powerful reflection of Jesus' love to a world desperately in need of it.
Let's challenge ourselves to value others above ourselves, just as Christ humbled himself for us. In our marriages, families, workplaces, and faith communities, may we cultivate hearts of submission – not out of obligation, but out of reverence for Jesus. As we do, we'll discover the paradoxical truth that in losing our lives, we truly find them, experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
In a world that often equates submission with weakness, we're called to embrace a radically different perspective. True submission, rooted in love and reverence for Christ, is not about losing control or diminishing our worth. Instead, it's a powerful choice to put others first, fostering unity and reflecting the heart of Jesus.
Consider the humble yield sign on the highway. It doesn't demand we stop forever, but simply asks us to let others go first. This small act of courtesy keeps traffic flowing smoothly. Similarly, biblical submission isn't about surrendering our identity or value. It's choosing to prioritize others, creating a harmonious flow in our relationships and communities.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, didn't suggest submission as an option, but commanded it: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). This isn't just for certain people – it's a calling for every follower of Jesus. It echoes Paul's words to the Philippians: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).
This upside-down kingdom perspective challenges our natural inclinations. In a culture that screams "me first," we're invited to lay down our pride and pick up love. It's not something we can achieve through sheer willpower. True submission flows from the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers us to love, forgive, encourage, and bear one another's burdens.
Jesus himself modeled perfect submission. Though fully God, he chose to take on human form, becoming a servant. He washed his disciples' feet, demonstrating that true greatness lies in serving others. Even in the face of unimaginable suffering, Jesus submitted to the Father's will in Gethsemane, praying, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Submission isn't about blind obedience or enduring abuse. It's a conscious choice to honor Christ by valuing others. We submit not because people always deserve it or are always right, but because Jesus is always worthy. When we approach submission with this heart, it transforms from mere duty into an act of worship.
Paul goes on to illustrate how submission should permeate every relationship:
- In marriage: Wives submit to husbands, not out of inferiority, but as an expression of trust in God's design. Husbands are called to an even more radical submission – loving their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
- In parenting: Children obey parents, while fathers are instructed not to provoke their children to anger, but to nurture them in the Lord's ways.
- In the workplace: Employees work diligently as if serving Christ himself, while employers treat workers with respect, remembering their own accountability to God.
When we embrace mutual submission, we experience harmony rather than hierarchy. It paves the way for unity, peace, and the favor of the Lord.
Consider the mighty redwood trees of California. These giants grow incredibly tall, not just because of their sturdy trunks, but because their roots intertwine underground, supporting each other against fierce winds. Similarly, when we submit to one another in Christian community, we find strength to weather life's storms and reach new heights of spiritual growth.
Submission also brings flexibility, like bridges designed to sway with earthquakes and high winds. This built-in give prevents collapse under pressure. When we learn to yield and bend, we become more resilient in the face of life's challenges.
The call to submission invites us to examine our hearts. Is there someone God is asking you to honor, forgive, or yield to? Is pride keeping you from unity in a relationship? Will you trust God enough to let go of control?
Embracing submission doesn't mean we instantly overcome every selfish impulse. It's a journey of growth, where God works on our hearts little by little. We don't have to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. Like stepping into a shower, we come as we are, allowing His grace to cleanse us over time.
For those struggling with addictions or destructive patterns, submission to God is the key to true freedom. While programs can offer sobriety, only Jesus can fundamentally transform desires and deliver lasting change. It's not about willpower, but about surrendering control and allowing God to work.
We must be careful not to judge others on their journey. Everyone is at a different stage in their walk with Christ. Instead of pointing fingers, we're called to focus on our own growth and extend grace to fellow believers. As Paul reminds us, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?" (Romans 14:4).
Imagine a sailboat on the open sea. Fighting against the wind leads to stalling and frustration. But when the boat submits to the wind's power, trusting its direction, it moves forward with purpose and grace. Our lives can experience that same forward momentum when we yield to God's leading and submit to one another in love.
Submission isn't about losing – it's about letting go and allowing God to lead. It's not weakness, but Christ-like strength. As we walk in humility and mutual service, the church becomes a powerful reflection of Jesus' love to a world desperately in need of it.
Let's challenge ourselves to value others above ourselves, just as Christ humbled himself for us. In our marriages, families, workplaces, and faith communities, may we cultivate hearts of submission – not out of obligation, but out of reverence for Jesus. As we do, we'll discover the paradoxical truth that in losing our lives, we truly find them, experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
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