I saw this quote today:
Submission to Christ without submission to the Scriptures is submission to a self-made Christ, not submission to Christ.It got me thinking.
In reality, I think that many people these days are making their own version of Christ so they won't get offended, but submission is about being offended, changing, conforming to the likeness of God and being obedient most of all to His Word. I have fallen victim to trying to bargain with Christ to try to get my way, trying to perceive God in the way I think He should be, trying to compromise so I can live the life I want but none of these ways leads to living in the truth. None of these ways can bring true job and contentedness at the end of the day when we have not surrendered our all and found true satisfaction in the goodness and love Christ provided for us on the cross.
Perhaps some don't want to respond to His calling; some people resist at the Word
submit, but until you live under His will you, will not reap the blessings He wants to pour upon us. No, life will not be easy, but it's nice to know we aren't alone. It's nice to know that our mistakes can be forgiven. It's nice to know we have a Father to come home to.
Some verses about submitting:
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
-- Hebrews 12:9 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. --
James 4:7 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. --
Ephesians 5:21"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. --
Job 22:21How do you put submission to Christ into practice? Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to submit to Him?
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Comments (12)
Submission requires a constant life of prayer, even when your away doing your normal routine, you can still pray to God. It doesn't require you to be on your knees, hands clasped. Submission requires a willingness to let go of things... relationships, desires, habits, hobbies, attitudes. Submission is a willingness to let God be the Lord over your time and money. Submission is a willingness to let God call you into a higher priority even if it means you and your spouse packing up and moving to a different country, and then waiting in expectation why God led you there.
I would say I am working out letting God control my time. I'm doing better at letting go of material things and letting go of desires.
right on!
I think one piece of submission to Christ that is commonly overlooked is submission within the Church body. We can easily allow our faith to be about "just me, God, and the Bible", while forgoing any kind of accountability to Church leadership and/or our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ, Christ lives through the Church, therefore a key part of submitting to Christ is submitting to the Church, which consists of our fellow believers.
This means we should find mentorship, seek the prayers and input of others before we make major decisions, serve one another with humility, forgive and seek forgiveness,share one another's burdens, confess our sins to one another, be prepared to receive and give correction, and yield to those in authority. If we try to live our Christian lives independently of these things, we are not fully submitting to Christ.
As much as we may not like it, one very important way Christ rules over us is through other Christians in our lives.
@SpokenThruScott@xanga - @subSacred@xanga - Amen!
I don't think we can submit to Jesus without obeying what he taught (Matthew 25:31-46)
Submission to Christ is not only believing in him and his resurrection and power but also believing his words and letting him rule/guide/command you. Submission looks like walking on water to Jesus, like dropping a net to follow, like putting your sword back in it's holder, like giving out of poverty, and more. I think it starts in the renewing of our minds.
@subSacred@xanga - Amen!
@TheGreatBout@xanga - Well said!
@SpokenThruScott@xanga - I too am working on this. In my inner man I constantly want to submit and obey but in my members there is only rebellion and sin. Thanks be to Christ Jesus that he will one day redeem the days that my sinful old nature has robbed from me and He will put an end to this constant struggle in my flesh.
I always here Christians talk about how Jesus commands them to do something, or how G-d is guiding them to some place in there life to teach them about so and so.
I'm asking honestly and with not judgement, but are you "hearing" his voice in your head? Do you really hear G-ds voice, just as you would mine if we were talking?
@NotWhereIThought@xanga - Read my comment here about that http://faultymanufacturing.xanga.com/719203982/item/?nextdate=1506161462&direction=n#1506161462
NotWhereIThought, I'm glad you asked, as I have been thinking about that myself.
Each of us are "wired" differently so God has different ways of speaking to us, but it's always very personal. The better one's relationship with Him, the better the person can discern His voice from his/her own thoughts or imagination.That's why it's quite difficult to explain to someone who doesn't have that relationship (yet).
In terms of methods, well, God is God so He speaks in any way He chooses, but most often people hear Him in forms of a still inner voice, visions (mental pictures), situations, words from other Christians, particularly verses of the Bible, dreams... some do hear an audible voice but that's very rare... etc. etc.
From my experience, I say that His voice is distinct from my own thoughts/imagination in the following ways:
1) transoformational - you are changed significantly inwardly. You gain a new, deep understanding.
2) often counter-intuitive - because God knows how things work better than your own reasoning/desires
3) Gives you a sense of peace
4) Always adheres to the scripture and the good character of God
5) You often learn a major lesson about particular aspects of God's character
6) Unforgettable, such an encounter with the Heavenly Father
Hearing from God is a huge topic and there're many books written on it. Maybe I don't explain too well, but hope it helps in some way!
Many thanks - very well written !
And amen...
Blessings to all... blessings !