Submission

Jesus was fully submitted to the Father, for the course of His life: His choices, His will, His ways. He only did what He saw the Father doing.

But even the word submission gives us anxiety. Give up my rights? My choices? My will? No way!

Here’s how I like to see it—I’ve got a plate in my hands—a dinner plate. It’s full of my own choices and their consequences, my own ways, my chosen course (rebellion) and all of it is ugly. It’s loneliness and depression, fear and failure. Not good.

Then, Jesus comes along. He’s got a plate in his hands and a banquet coming into view behind Him. He comes in wisdom; He knows the best ways to navigate through this life. He comes with blessings: peace for my anxious thoughts, communion in place of loneliness, faith in place of fear and humble success in place of failures. He’s also got a question:

Will you give up your plate full of garbage (personal ways, rebellion, pain, fear, etc.) and accept His feast (including peace, unconditional love, forgiveness, faith, life more abundantly)?

The enemy of our souls would have us believe submitting to God and His ways will mean bondage. And we believe that for fear. But God’s Word says:

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor. 3:17, Literal)

Ever watched a small child ride along in a car? They’re buckled into their car seat with safety T-seatbelts, hands at their sides (in a content moment) and trusting. That’s the key.

God can and will take the willing believer farther and with more freedom and peace than s/he could ever go alone. And after this journey on earth is completed, eternity with Him, where we’ll feast on Him.

What do you have in your hands that is more blessed, beautiful or meaningful than what God can offer you? What ways are you walking in that God has shown you aren’t His? What will you do about it?