Submission
This is something the Lord has been teaching me a lot lately. It doesn't matter if you're married or single...submission begins before you even meet your spouse. We must learn to be submissive in many different revenues of our walks, and relationships with others. When we learn to be submissive, we are not only obeying God and walking by His commandments, but we are also respecting those who are in authority over us. I learned a really hard lesson in submission over the Summer. Not something I'm proud of but I'll share my story anyway.
Growing up I was the only girl in the family, aside from my mom. I have two older brothers, so naturally my dad used to spoil me a lot. I still look back on my childhood, and in those times when I get selfish, greedy, or needy I just think back to how much I was spoiled...NOT a good thing! My dad is the most wonderful man there ever could be. He loves his children and his wife so much, he would do anything for them. I remember getting punished when I was little. Mom was the enforcer, and dad was the, "Oh, just let her off.... give grace" type of man. Gotta love him for that one... haha. As I've grown in the Lord I have seen how ugly my heart really is in the area of submission to my parents. I just expected things from them. When they told me no, I would fight back. And if I didn't always get my way I would pout and annoy them until they broke just a little bit. Let's get serious...girls are notorious for this type of attitude. It's called manipulation. It's ugly, vicious, and as godly women we must learn when to keep quiet, respect those over us, and learn the word NO. It's a good word to accept! Trust me! Well, this past Summer I had a friend who was willing to do a photo shoot of me! She was charging $40 and I was super excited considering I had never done a photo shoot, and always wanted to! I was sitting in the doctors office with my dad that day and we were waiting on the doctor to come in. We were just chatting and I told my dad (note the word: TOLD) that I was doing a photo shoot with my friend and I needed $40 (note the word NEEDED). His response was just as any good father would be, "$40?! No. I don't have that kind of cash and you're not doing it!" I don't know what came over me... but all I knew was my flesh flared up. I fought back for a while and my dad just kept telling me, 'NO'. Finally I lashed out and blurted.. "Well I don't care WHAT YOU SAY I'm DOING IT ANYWAY." Ever had one of those moments where you say something and automatically your mind freaks out and you wish you could take it all back? Yepp that was me. Tears welled up in my eyes, half because of anger, but mostly because I was absolutely appalled at what I just said. The doctor came in and I could barely speak. God was so firm with me that moment. I was NOT respecting my father, loving him, or submitting to him at all. I was so in the flesh. On the car ride home I knew I needed to apologize. Yet I didn't want to. I was embarrassed. I hate my pride. Finally I blurted out that I was sorry and that I was seriously WRONG in the fact that I didn't submit to his commands. I just kept crying. I was like, dang...who was that girl? Being the wonderful man my father is, he was so loving about it. "Oh honey, I know you are sorry. I know you didn't mean it. You're so sweet. Don't cry." Just like Jesus.
Growing up I was the only girl in the family, aside from my mom. I have two older brothers, so naturally my dad used to spoil me a lot. I still look back on my childhood, and in those times when I get selfish, greedy, or needy I just think back to how much I was spoiled...NOT a good thing! My dad is the most wonderful man there ever could be. He loves his children and his wife so much, he would do anything for them. I remember getting punished when I was little. Mom was the enforcer, and dad was the, "Oh, just let her off.... give grace" type of man. Gotta love him for that one... haha. As I've grown in the Lord I have seen how ugly my heart really is in the area of submission to my parents. I just expected things from them. When they told me no, I would fight back. And if I didn't always get my way I would pout and annoy them until they broke just a little bit. Let's get serious...girls are notorious for this type of attitude. It's called manipulation. It's ugly, vicious, and as godly women we must learn when to keep quiet, respect those over us, and learn the word NO. It's a good word to accept! Trust me! Well, this past Summer I had a friend who was willing to do a photo shoot of me! She was charging $40 and I was super excited considering I had never done a photo shoot, and always wanted to! I was sitting in the doctors office with my dad that day and we were waiting on the doctor to come in. We were just chatting and I told my dad (note the word: TOLD) that I was doing a photo shoot with my friend and I needed $40 (note the word NEEDED). His response was just as any good father would be, "$40?! No. I don't have that kind of cash and you're not doing it!" I don't know what came over me... but all I knew was my flesh flared up. I fought back for a while and my dad just kept telling me, 'NO'. Finally I lashed out and blurted.. "Well I don't care WHAT YOU SAY I'm DOING IT ANYWAY." Ever had one of those moments where you say something and automatically your mind freaks out and you wish you could take it all back? Yepp that was me. Tears welled up in my eyes, half because of anger, but mostly because I was absolutely appalled at what I just said. The doctor came in and I could barely speak. God was so firm with me that moment. I was NOT respecting my father, loving him, or submitting to him at all. I was so in the flesh. On the car ride home I knew I needed to apologize. Yet I didn't want to. I was embarrassed. I hate my pride. Finally I blurted out that I was sorry and that I was seriously WRONG in the fact that I didn't submit to his commands. I just kept crying. I was like, dang...who was that girl? Being the wonderful man my father is, he was so loving about it. "Oh honey, I know you are sorry. I know you didn't mean it. You're so sweet. Don't cry." Just like Jesus.
But ladies, when we refuse to submit to those who are over us, we are not obeying the commands of the Lord. The Bible is so clear on the area of submission. First and foremost, we are to submit to GOD. It says in James 4:7, "Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." I think it's neat that we were told to submit to God AND resist the devil..in the same passage of scripture. I believe it's because when we don't submit to God, or to those over us, we are allowing our flesh to take hold.. and Satan is having his way. Yet we are to submit to God..in everything. We are to lay down our wants, our desires, our plans, our actions...we are to let God take firm hold of everything in our lives and why? Because He knows best. Do you really think God would command us to submit because His ways aren't good? I know that the Lord commands us to submit, because it is for our GOOD! Submission is not evil, and it isn't something that we should think of as punishment but it is a precious privilege. Look at feminists all around the world today. They are trying to tell us that women should be above men, that we should go to work while the man stays home and takes care of house, I mean...do you see functioning families this way? What has become of our generation? Women no longer want to be homemakers and raise their children, but they'd rather be in the workplace making tons of money while other people raise their children for them. It's not ok, ladies. Now, I understand sometimes there are drastic measures and women need to get babysitters and use daycare centers and that's okay. But when I see a family whose wife refuses to stay home with her children and would rather go work while her husband is the one at home...it saddens me. Or when I see a woman who refuses to learn to cook, refuses to clean the house, or claims she doesn't like doing the dishes... if that's you... get with it girls. Because our duties are beautiful and wonderful and we should hold them in high respect and honor. Again, your husband can help you, you guys can take turns..but I've heard of some women who refuse to cook because they don't like to. They won't even try to learn. That to me, is wrong. Learn! It's fun, creative, and not that hard! If I can cook, anyone can..believe me. But when we understand our roles in society, in the church, and in the home, we come to a better understanding of peace, joy, love, and obedience to Christ. Refusing to submit DOESN'T give you the power you want, ladies. It only gives you more area for the flesh and Satan to work its way in. When you submit, you're not only obeying God, but you are happier.
1 Peter 2:13 says, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. . ." It is because the Lord loves us, that we are to obey Him by submitting to Him.
1 Peter 2:13 says, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. . ." It is because the Lord loves us, that we are to obey Him by submitting to Him.
Now, why should we as women submit? Well, I think we should take a look at one of the most prominent passages in submission, out of Ephesians 5. It says in Ephesians 5:22-24, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the LORD. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in EVERYTHING." I love how it talks about God and the church. Ultimately, while we're single, we are to submit under God's authority and those in leadership over us in the church. That's where it starts. And as the Lord brings you your spouse, you will begin to see (that hopefully) he is a man who represents Jesus in his character. Therefore when you are married, just as you submit to God in all things, you submit to your husband as is fitting to the LORD. I love that. Why do we submit? Because it's fitting unto the Lord. Simple and plain. We submit because it's what God has commanded, and He is honored by doing so.
Submission obviously isn't only in marriage. It's in the work place, in our families, our churches, in society. When we are working, we submit to our bosses, unless they command us to do something unbiblical. In the home we submit to our parents, or our spouses. In society we submit to those older than us. I mean, we learn it earlier on in life. The world views submission as nothing. Instead of submitting to authority everyone is trying to race to BE the authority. Ladies, there is no joy, no abundance in being the authority figure over those whom the Lord gives us. No functional family is blessed when the wife is leading the home, whereas no business booms if someone doesn't obey or listen to the rules of their boss. What happens? Well you could get fired. Or, as a child, if you disrespect your parents, you could get punished. So likewise, if we refuse to submit to our husbands, or those placed in authority over us, God will not bless us.
Our prayer should be that we seek humble hearts, not contentious and demanding hearts. That flesh will try and creep up as much as possible...but it is our responsibility to be gentle, quiet in spirit, and willing to submit to those over us. God is still teaching me to be submissive, and it's hard. My flesh often times wants to take over. I sometimes think that I know it all, have it all, and can control it all...but it's in those times when my heart is outwardly showing ugliness.
I know that submission goes right along with RESPECT. If you respect your father and mother, you'll obey them. If you respect your husband, you'll gladly submit to him. If you respect your boss, you'll be joyful in abiding by their rules. Yet if you have no respect for someone, why would you want to please them? This is a hard lesson to learn. And we should look at it biblically. Do you truly love the Lord, ladies? Do you really strive to abide by His commands, love Him wholeheartedly? If so, then you must know that submission is a key essential aspect of your daily walk. In everything. I've talked to you about learning to submit to God in areas of my life that weren't easy....but afterward it yielded fruit and abundance. I have never found greater joy than in submission. When I try to take control, or try to talk back, I've only found ugliness, not joy. Running to be in a position of leadership over authority is not something that we should desire.
We submit because it's God's precious desire for us, girls!! It is NOT a punishment, it is NOT sexist, it is NOT old fashioned...it is BEAUTIFUL! Be the one whom the guys chase after, be the one who accepts her dad's command, be the one who lays down her life for the sake of the Gospel. These are beautiful! Why do we insist on being brazen and 'out there'? Why do we think we can plow ahead and be the best? Humility is a beautiful thing. Submission is precious. I love what it says in 1 Peter 5:5-6, "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with HUMILITY, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."
When we submit under those over us, we are submitting unto God. It is a beautiful privilege, and an honor. I'm gladly reading "God's High Calling for Women" by John MacArthur. His sermons on the matter blow me away, too. I'm currently in the section about submission. I want to end with a quote from the book. We are going through 1 Timothy 2. It says:
"Women must stop believing the devil's lie that the only role of significance is that of leadership. People usually desire places of prominence--not to humbly serve others, but to boost their own egos and gain power and control. Leaders, however, bear a heavy burden and responsibility, and the subordinate role often is one of greater peace and happiness. Subordination is not punishment, but privilege." John MacArthur
Girls...what an honor and privilege we have to be submissive! We will radiate Jesus and shine as beautiful women if we do so. There's a reason God created Adam FIRST! God knew what He was doing! He knew that the man would be the leader, and that in doing so, he would help guide the women. So, why do we try and fill the role of man? It goes AGAINST what God intended. If He wanted men and women equal, He would have not created woman FROM Adam's rib! He would have made the two at the same time, but He didn't, and He chose to create women OUT OF Adam. So amazing to me.
I know for me, I view submission as one of the most beautiful privileges we have as women. I didn't say I found it to be EASY, haha, but I find it to be precious. Why would I want to trump the ideal and perfection of the home, the way God created it to be? May we learn as single women to submit to those over us, but more importantly, to God. When we bow our hearts morning after morning, let us take a look at ourselves and make sure we are allowing God to have FULL CONTROL of our wills. May we learn that submission is not something we do once and we attain it forever, but it is a daily thing we must pray for. Once you learn the value of submission you can begin to see the beautiful role and responsibility we have as women. Not something to be hated, but something to be extremely treasured.
"Your dedication to honoring people honors God and brings beauty to your life that reflects your heart after God." - Elizabeth George, 'A Woman After God's Own Heart'
No comments:
Post a Comment