Submitting to God means an acknowledgement that God is superior in all matters affecting our lives. God demands that we submit to him which must be voluntary. Hebrews 5: 7 says in the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and was heard because of his reverent submission. We submit to God to save us.
Reward for non-submission
Psalms 81: 11-12 say but my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! So, submission to God includes walking in the ways of God. Upon our failure to submit to God, we rather submit to the yoke of spiritual slavery with the devil. Galatians 5: 1 says… Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Reward for submission
If we submit to God or cause others to do the same, we have our names written in heaven. Jesus said in Luke 10: 20… do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Submission demands absolute trust in God. Proverbs 3: 6 says… In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. God takes charge of our affairs when we submit to him. James 6: 37 says anyone who comes to me, I will never drive away.
Reward for partial submission
This is also called lukewarm attitude. It is the willingness to serve two masters contrary to scripture. God recognizes it as non-submission to him. God shares his glory with none other but Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit who are part of him as one body. God said in Exodus 20: 5 I the LORD your God am a jealous God. God said in Ezekiel 39: 25 I will be jealous for my holy name. On lukewarm attitudes, Revelation 3: 16 says because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. We must be hot or cold in our walk in Christ Jesus.
Divine nature of submission to God
We are rather exhorted to submit to God. James 4: 7 says submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We are unable to submit to God because we flirt with the devil in sin consequently we are unable to resist him. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 24; Luke 16: 13; no one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Have we obeyed God and submitted to Christ Jesus?
Submission goes with a promise.
Psalms 55: 22 says cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. We cannot cast our burden on someone whose authority we do not trust as absolute or offend with our doubts regarding his capacity. Similarly, Matthew 11: 28 says come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. We cannot come to Jesus without submitting to his authority. The invitation is to all who are ready to submit to his authority.
Have we submitted our total lives to Jesus without any reservation? Have we yielded all the dark alleys in our lives to Jesus to assume control? Do we consult Jesus in every step along the way? Jesus said in John 14: 6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Our submission to God will not be complete without Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Will we submit to him and be free? He is waiting.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, our submission to you has been lukewarm. We have followed our own desires and vain philosophies. We ask for your pardon in your blood. May your will be done from this moment forward in our lives holding nothing back from you. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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