Ever heard of that word? Maybe you have. One of the first
scriptural references that may come to mind is Ephesians 5:22 (NKJV): “Wives,
submit to your own husbands as to the Lord…” Ok, SUBMIT ….. SUBMISSION. “Lord,
I love You so much so I’m going to do it” But do we? Do we merely obey and not
submit (with our whole hearts)? Do we confuse the two and when we think we are
submitting, we are simply being obedient because the bible instructs us to?
Can I be honest? Submission is something that I’m still adjusting with, to this day. We exist in an era where everything stems or leads to
independence- especially for women. Now more than ever, the presence of
feminists are on the rise- understandably but not agreeably so- as the
persistent stripping of manhood from our males and their places in the homes, have pushed women to the brink of becoming both man and woman especially/
specifically in the family.
However without straying any further, submission is what I
consider as a beautiful gift from God; a desire that He so longs for us to live
out, that we may experience the fullness of His love and His glory. Still not
convinced? Take a look at these scriptures following that directly or
indirectly relate and its binding promises (where applicable):
James 4:7
Proverbs 3: 5-6
Romans 8:7
Ephesians 5:21, 24
Ephesians 6:5-8
1 Peter 2:13
1 Peter 5:5-6
1 Corinthians 15:28
Romans 13:1
The supreme example of submission is of course our LORD Jesus
Christ, who in all humility died that we may dies that we may live and be
reunited to God, our places in heaven established and ultimately- His ascension
and exaltation being seated at the right hand of the Father. Did Jesus
encounter difficulty or questioned/doubted when He was asked to walk in
submission? I certainly believe so. Remember when He prayed to God: “(And He
was withdrawn from about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying)
‘Father if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My
will but Yours, be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42 NKJV). The MSG states it differently
but quite interestingly a deeper perspective (for this topic’s sake): “Father
remove this cup from Me. But please, not what I want. WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Wow!
That is true submission here. But it does not stop here. He received God’s
gentle nudge (a gift for that time): “Then an angel appeared to His from
heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly…” (Luke
22:43-44 NKJV).
What led to His submission and humility? The answer could not
have been any clearer: LOVE. And love being the greatest gift (1 Corinthians
13), overcoming a multitude of sin and representing God’s epitome of the
meaning of the word itself through the sacrificial lamb Himself- Christ Jesus.
So in essence, I believe the revelation behind submission is love. If our love for
God is true and pure, it is surely to be tested, in order to release the
richest and most valuable oil of anointing and power that is within. Quite
simply if we:
LOVE God è we will HUMBLE ourselves è to
the point of SURRENDER è and
allow ourselves to be SUBMITTED and SUBJECTED to HIS WILL
Submission breeds peace and stability. SUBMISSION breeds grounds
for respect in the home and our lives. Most importantly, submission breeds
grounds for God to move freely and fully on our behalf (His children, His royal
priesthood, His generation, His light bearers, His reflectors/ mirrors her on
earth).
In the end, we shall be glorified with Christ- for we sought to
walk in the spirit and not in the flesh (thereby defying the works of darkness
and crucifying the flesh).
--- PRAYER ----
Father, teach me in every way to be submissive
unto You, thereby submitting to authority and soon, my husband… that You have
divinely placed over me. I desire not to be religious in obeying Your
instruction for outward rewards or recognition, but I desire to have deeper
companionship with You by allowing You to mold me and break me inwardly that
like David, You may see me as a woman after Your own heart- always thirsty for
Your love and bearing Your light and ways. Oh! What a wonder it is to behold
Your face in the beauty of holiness and to love with Your everlasting love!
Thank You Father for breaking this vessel to pour out Your greatness which
flows beginning now in Jesus' name!
I hereby close with a key scripture that summarizes altogether
Christ's decision to submit, what He had to endure and His subsequent reward
from God. Be encouraged and of good cheer!
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who,
being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore
God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 5-11)
