What does it really mean when we talk about being "submissive to God's will?"
Upon what is it based? In what way is its accomplished? What will be its effects?
The word submissive implies a volitional, conscious, willful coming under authority. Naturally, man has an independent spirit of self-sufficiency, and as a result, may have difficulty in submitting to those authorities that have been placed in their lives. Children live under the authoritative protection of parents. The laws of our land define the parameters of our actions, as citizens. Employees fulfill the obligations of earning a paycheck by aligning themselves with the policies and protocol of the employer from whom those wages come.
As blood-bought believers, however, we additionally have a greater and higher privilege and responsibility to the One Who has reconciled us unto Himself. It is simply submitting the human desires of the heart to the divine design of our Sovereign. Christ submitted Himself to the will of the Father, and to the extent that we imitate Him in that, we will see His plan for our lives come to fruition. We see the ultimate prayer of submission come from the lips of our Saviour, when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane " ...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)
Every action word demands an object. In the act of submission, the object is always the person of the sovereign God of Heaven. If it is to be authentic, it must never be based on, or be in light of our feelings. Rather, it must be based upon the clear revelation of God as declared in the Scriptures. What is the heart, mind, will and purpose of God, as demonstrated in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ? As that was clearly seen in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, so He admonished in Matthew 22:37-39 to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." and to "love thy neighbour as thyself." Those 2 great commandments are seen in the act of obedience to God, as the object of our obedience, and service to man, as the object of our ministry of service.
Biblical submission is accomplished as we yield our temporal will, following flesh desires, to the greater eternal will of the Father, Who has declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). When, upon making discerning assessment, we discover our thoughts to be centered more around ourselves than upon God and others, we can know we are paying homage to the flesh. When our walk is fashioned to better our own situation, without respect to it's ripple effect on God's holy Name or the spiritual life of others, we are walking in the power of, and for the glory of the flesh. When our talk would tend to elevate ourselves, rather than exalting God and edifying others, it is with certainty that we are falling short of the glory of God.
The effects of absolute submission to the perfect will of God are seen both in the matter of pleasing God and profiting people. Whether we eat or drink,or whatsoever we do, it is to done to the glory of God,according to 1Corinthians 10:31. Our steps are to be ordered according to His Word, as seen in Psalm 119:133. Christ's submission to the will of the Father secured the full availability of our salvation. Our submission to the will of the Father evidences the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and gives those in our world an opportunity to see Christ living us, and trust Him too. (Psalm 40:1-3)
-(c) 1993, 2012 N.A. Collins Limited copy permission given for one file copy-
Upon what is it based? In what way is its accomplished? What will be its effects?
The word submissive implies a volitional, conscious, willful coming under authority. Naturally, man has an independent spirit of self-sufficiency, and as a result, may have difficulty in submitting to those authorities that have been placed in their lives. Children live under the authoritative protection of parents. The laws of our land define the parameters of our actions, as citizens. Employees fulfill the obligations of earning a paycheck by aligning themselves with the policies and protocol of the employer from whom those wages come.
As blood-bought believers, however, we additionally have a greater and higher privilege and responsibility to the One Who has reconciled us unto Himself. It is simply submitting the human desires of the heart to the divine design of our Sovereign. Christ submitted Himself to the will of the Father, and to the extent that we imitate Him in that, we will see His plan for our lives come to fruition. We see the ultimate prayer of submission come from the lips of our Saviour, when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane " ...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)
Every action word demands an object. In the act of submission, the object is always the person of the sovereign God of Heaven. If it is to be authentic, it must never be based on, or be in light of our feelings. Rather, it must be based upon the clear revelation of God as declared in the Scriptures. What is the heart, mind, will and purpose of God, as demonstrated in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ? As that was clearly seen in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, so He admonished in Matthew 22:37-39 to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." and to "love thy neighbour as thyself." Those 2 great commandments are seen in the act of obedience to God, as the object of our obedience, and service to man, as the object of our ministry of service.
Biblical submission is accomplished as we yield our temporal will, following flesh desires, to the greater eternal will of the Father, Who has declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). When, upon making discerning assessment, we discover our thoughts to be centered more around ourselves than upon God and others, we can know we are paying homage to the flesh. When our walk is fashioned to better our own situation, without respect to it's ripple effect on God's holy Name or the spiritual life of others, we are walking in the power of, and for the glory of the flesh. When our talk would tend to elevate ourselves, rather than exalting God and edifying others, it is with certainty that we are falling short of the glory of God.
The effects of absolute submission to the perfect will of God are seen both in the matter of pleasing God and profiting people. Whether we eat or drink,or whatsoever we do, it is to done to the glory of God,according to 1Corinthians 10:31. Our steps are to be ordered according to His Word, as seen in Psalm 119:133. Christ's submission to the will of the Father secured the full availability of our salvation. Our submission to the will of the Father evidences the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and gives those in our world an opportunity to see Christ living us, and trust Him too. (Psalm 40:1-3)
-(c) 1993, 2012 N.A. Collins Limited copy permission given for one file copy-
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