Verse of the day: Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear
of God.
The subject matter for this series of devotionals
will be one that will be “hard to swallow” for some of us in this day and age;
yes, even those of us who are followers of Jesus. As born again believers we
ought to be the living examples of what it means to live a life of submission;
first to God, then to all those who God commands us to submit to. Note that I
did not say “suggests”. Submission is a command. God does not talk about
submission as something that is optional. He calls us to submit, not just to
Him, but to one another. We cannot say that we love Jesus, then live a life of
rebellion toward His Word and toward those that He commands us to submit to (John
14:15). We live, especially today, in a rebellious society; one that has no
respect for authority, whether God’s or man’s. We live in a time when the
majority of people, Christians included, do not like being told what to do,
even if it is reasonable, and does not violate God’s Word. Why? The root of our
rebellion and disobedience is pride. Our pride makes us stubborn and even when
we are clearly wrong we still refuse to submit to those whom God calls us to
submit to. Sadly, those who are in a position of authority, even biblical
authority, abuse their position and power, and are often the cause of such
rebellion. Before addressing the earthly relationships in respect to
submission, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that submitting to each other is to
be done in the fear of God. In other words, our relationship to God is the key
to the humility needed for each of us to submit to one another. Jesus was the
living example of what submission should looks like in both our relationship
with God and our earthly relationships. In John 8:29, Jesus clear stated that
He always did what was pleasing to the Father. Even though Jesus is God, as the
Son He always submitted to the Father (Mt 26:39). In Philippians 2:5-8, the
Apostle tells us that Jesus not only humbled Himself in obedience to God the
Father’s plan, but also to the authority of man, even unto the painful death on
the Cross. In His childhood, Jesus humbled Himself to the authority of His earthly
parents, Mary and Joseph (Lk 2:51). In one of the greatest examples of
humility, and obedience to the Father, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of His
disciples, showing what it meant to submit to one another; especially since
Judas, the disciple who betrayed Him was included in that foot washing (John
13:5). It is this kind of humility, and submission on the part of one who is in
authority, and has power over others, that will encourage submission by those
who are subordinates. The Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) are the ultimate
example of what submission should look like, as each is God and equal in power,
but still operate within the role of each Person of the Trinity. In submitting
to one another, we are to remember that the fear, reverence, and respect for
our God, is the foundation and basis for our submission. In 1 Peter 2:13-14, the
Apostle Peter tells us that we are submit to the ordinance of man. Why? It is
for the Lord’s sake. This is not to say that there will be times when we must
obey God over man’s ungodly and wicked abuse of authority, as both Peter and
John did when told not to preach Christ (Acts 5:29). The bottom line is that
God calls us to show the love of Christ in our submission to one another. In
Romans 12:10, the Apostle reminds us that we are to be kindly affectionate one
to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. In Philippians
2:3, he reminded us that we are to do nothing through strife or vainglory, but
in humility esteeming others as better than ourselves. This is the foundation for
the relationships that the Apostle will discuss in this chapter, and the
following, in respect to the husband-wife relationship; parent-child
relationship, and master-servant relationship. Regardless of which relationship
we interact in each day, we must (I repeat…we must) be grounded, first and
foremost, in a reverent and obedient relationship with our God.
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