Submission: November 27, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27.

SUBMISSION

Defined by Webster:
The act or effect of submitting; yielding; obedient.

GODS WORD

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.” I Peter 2:13.

“Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh to them.” Colossians 3:18-19

“You younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another.” I Peter 5:5.

“One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.” I Timothy 3:4.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

We all have a mind of our own and a desire to do things our way and in our own timing. Our natural tendency is not to want to be submissive. This is nothing new. It goes back to the Garden of Eden. First Eve, then Adam, rebelled against submitting to God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit. That was when trouble began.

As new parents we were amazed at how soon our sweet little bundle of joy developed a mind of his own and had no desire to submit to our will. You just went to sleep and your child is wide awake demanding attention and just wants to play. You know whose will wins out. That is only the beginning. They only get more demanding as they grow up so it is soon quite evident they have a lot to learn about submission.

Submission to others is necessary to prevent discord and chaos. The Bible teaches that we are to be submissive, first of all to God, and obey His commandments. The tragic actions of Adam and Eve are evidence of the importance of being submissive to God. Jesus set the example for us by submitting to the will of the Father and was “obedient to death, even death on the cross.” (Philippians 2:9). How can we do any less then to submit ourselves to God, the Father our Lord and creator.

The Bible teaches that we are to be submissive in our marriage. Colossians 3:18 instructs us that wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. In this day of “women’s lib” this is not a popular concept. Nevertheless it is what God says. It is not popular because it has been misinterpreted and misused as giving the husband unlimited authority. They forget that the Lord commands husbands how to love and treat their wives.

The Bible’s teaching on marriage relationships requires the man to be the spiritual leader of the family and the wife is to acknowledge his leadership role. A loving and caring husband will not take advantage of his leadership role and be a demanding tyrant. Likewise, a wife who loves and cares for her husband will not undermine her husband’s leadership. There must be a mutual submission between husband and wife, with each striving to be a true help-mate. Submission is what brings harmony and unity in a marriage. There has to be a lot of give and take in a marriage.

The Bible also tells us that we must be submissive to those in authority over us. Peter tells us to submit to those who have a legitimate authority over us for the Lord’s sake. It honors the Lord when we are law abiding and obedient to those in authority over us. The only exception is that if obedience to an authority would cause us to be disobedient to God.

As parents, we must teach our children to be submissive not only to us as parents, but to their teachers and others who have authority over them.

This week’s memory verse is found in Psalm 119:11. Remember:
our goal is to memorize one verse a week and this is FRIDAY!

“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Help me to control my desire to have things my way and give me a willingness to be submissive. Help me to be submissive, first of all, to You and secondly to my spouse. Guide us as we teach our children to be submissive. May others see Christ in us as they see our submission to our Lord.