Ephesians 5:8b-10, 18b, 20-21 - Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ... Be filled with the Spirit ... giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Submission has gotten a bad name in our modern Western cultures. We think of it as being a doormat, allowing other people to walk all over you. And so when Paul tells us to submit "to one another out of reverence for Christ," a lot of people shy away from that. "Isn't that unhealthy?" they ask.
The answer is no—if we understand what Paul is really asking us to do here. He's not saying that we ought to be weak and let other people treat us any way they want. No, what Paul wants us to do takes a lot of strength and intelligence. He is saying that we should "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7).
Jesus is God Most High, and nobody could make Him submit to anything He didn't choose to do. So what did He do with His freedom and power? He came among us as a Man like us instead of a radiant, terrifying, untouchable Glory. He humbled Himself to the point that people felt safe dealing with Him—even arguing with Him!—and so they were more likely to let Him get close to them, and come to faith. Jesus saw our needs, that we were broken, sinful, and doomed to spiritual death; and to save us from all that, He gave Himself up to death—even death on a cross!—so that He could heal us and forgive us and give us eternal life. Jesus submitted Himself and did all these things, why? Because He loves us.
So now we, too, can recognize that we are valuable children of God with many gifts and powers, and still, freely, choose to lay them aside when we see a fellow human being who needs our care. It means that when there is an argument about something that really doesn't matter—something God has never given any command or instruction on—we can say to ourselves, "Okay, she's really, really invested in what color the church carpet should be, and I think it's ugly, but is it worth fighting about? Why not let her have her way and be happy?" We can lay down our own rights because we love our neighbors and want them to have what is best for them; and then, when it really matters, we can stand up for what is right and not budge—for instance, if our neighbors are leading us into sin.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, teach me what it means to submit to others out of love for You and them. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word "submit"? Why?
2. When have you seen a strong person submit to the needs of a weaker one?
3. How do you feel about the fact that Jesus loved you enough to submit Himself to your needs?
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-12 1 Corinthians 8
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