Daily Encouragementنموونە

“Submission,” said Spencer Walton, “is the greatest Mission we can belong to.” Then all genuine Christians will belong to it, because submission is a key element in the spiritual life, and the spirit of such submission will affect every aspect of that life. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21). The spirit of submission is the Christlike spirit, and its fragrance is particularly pleasing in the marriage relationship, in the Christian home and in the working world.

The world, the flesh and the devil are all diametrically opposed to the very concept of submission. Hatred and enmity characterize the world’s attitude to God - “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). The flesh fights and wants to be on top - “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (verse 1). The devil encourages the pride which refuses to submit to God.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God,” says James, because in such submission is the key to victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. Rightly understood, it is the response of love to love - of our love to the love of God, who is jealous for us and showers his grace upon us.