Obedience
Monday 10th September 2018
'Submit yourselves, then, to God.' James 4:7 NIV
Submission and obedience don't sound very comfortable or cool but, from a biblical perspective, they are positive forces to accomplish good, not negative forces that God's using to make us feel oppressed or inferior.
When it comes to obedience as God intends, our best role model is Jesus: (1) He was obedient to his parents' authority (see Exodus 20:12). After Jesus' parents found him in the temple as a young boy, the Bible tells us: 'He returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them' (Luke 2:51 GWT). (2) He respected the authority of secular rulers (as long as their authority didn't clash with God's will). When the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking him if they should pay taxes, Jesus replied, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God' (Mark 12:17 NLT). (3) He always submitted to God's will. Before he was arrested and crucified, he prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want' (Matthew 26:39 NCV). When we're obedient and submit to God's authority, we're letting God work in and through us.
So what now? In the original writings of the Bible, one of the Greek words used for submission and obedience is hupotasso. It means to place yourself willingly under the authority of another. So, why not submit (or re-submit) yourself to God, and be willing to give your all to him, allowing him to use you as he sees best.
Monday 10th September 2018
'Submit yourselves, then, to God.' James 4:7 NIV
Submission and obedience don't sound very comfortable or cool but, from a biblical perspective, they are positive forces to accomplish good, not negative forces that God's using to make us feel oppressed or inferior.
When it comes to obedience as God intends, our best role model is Jesus: (1) He was obedient to his parents' authority (see Exodus 20:12). After Jesus' parents found him in the temple as a young boy, the Bible tells us: 'He returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them' (Luke 2:51 GWT). (2) He respected the authority of secular rulers (as long as their authority didn't clash with God's will). When the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking him if they should pay taxes, Jesus replied, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God' (Mark 12:17 NLT). (3) He always submitted to God's will. Before he was arrested and crucified, he prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want' (Matthew 26:39 NCV). When we're obedient and submit to God's authority, we're letting God work in and through us.
So what now? In the original writings of the Bible, one of the Greek words used for submission and obedience is hupotasso. It means to place yourself willingly under the authority of another. So, why not submit (or re-submit) yourself to God, and be willing to give your all to him, allowing him to use you as he sees best.
