Authentic Kingdom Culture - SubmissionSample

Submission is ultimately unto God.

Jesus says that we cannot say we love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love our brother who we can see. Loving our brother or sister is actually loving God. It is the same with submission. When we submit to others, it is actually an act of submitting to God.

Let’s take another look at Colossians 3:18-4:1. This time, notice how many times the writer points us back to the fact that who we are really submitting to is God Himself:

· Wives are told to submit “as is fitting in the Lord.”

· Children are told to obey “for this pleases the Lord.”

· Servants are told to work heartily “as for the Lord and not for men.”

· Masters are told to treat their servants fairly and justly “knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

And then there is verse 24, around which the whole passage pivots (ESV):

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

This is the crux of the matter. When we defer our preferences in the best interests of others we are really submitting our will to Christ’s will. We are choosing His way instead of our way and we are choosing His reward instead of our own. By practicing Godly submission as husbands, wives, parents, children, employers, employees, elders, and church members, we are serving the Lord Christ and we will be richly rewarded by Him.

Points to pray/journal:

· Do I see submission more as unto a person or unto God?

Declarations:

· Every time I seek the best interests of others above my own interests Jesus is glorified and Jesus is pleased with me!