Tag: Submit

Devotionals

Submissive to God’s Will         

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 3:8-30 NLT – But some of the astrologers went to the – Bible Gateway

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.’” Daniel 3:16 NLT

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

The well-known Bible story of the three Hebrew boys thrown into the fiery furnace is applicable for all Christians today. Really?! The familiar names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not only have a ring to them, but they represent all Christians living in a pagan society. They held positions of rank in the Babylonian government, were under the king’s rule, but they were also followers of the Lord their God, the God of Israel. Christians today hold jobs in a secular pagan society, are under the authority of the government, and we are followers of Jesus Christ.

The government of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, issued an order for all people within the boundaries of the empire to bow down and worship the golden image he had erected. Bowing down would be recognizing the gods of Babylon and the king as a god by being obedient to the order given. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when called before the king for not bowing did not need to think it over, but told King Nebuchadnezzar they didn’t need to defend themselves. Their actions were intentional. Their minds were made up, and they would not bow but rested on the Lord their God to deliver them from the king either in death or by rescuing them from the fiery flames of the furnace. They submitted to the will of God.

We may not be put in a fiery furnace situation as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but we are beginning to see increase pressure to suppress Christianity across the world, and even in the United States. When those moments come, will we be able to be as intentional as the three Hebrew boys and be submissive to God’s will whatever it may be, or will we bow down to gods of this world.

Devotionals

Victory by Submission           

Loring Schultz

 “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39b NLT

Photo by Nghia Le on Unsplash

To submit is to show a sign of weakness. It usually ends in defeat when yielding your control to others, at least that is how the world sees it. The world is not entirely wrong in their assessment. Submitting yourself to the control of someone else guarantees your willingness to accept all that is involved in your submission including the outcome. People submit themselves to various causes and the control of others for all sorts of reasons, most of them voluntarily, unfortunately in our current day many are forced into submission through abusive circumstances. But there is always victory by submission if done in God’s will and according to His Word.

When the Bible speaks of submission it is mostly in the context of being in the will of the Lord, such as in working and serving, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.” (1Pt.2:18 nkjv) Also in relation to governing authorities, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,” (1Pt.2:13 niv) And being submissive to our spiritual leaders, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” (Heb.13:17 esv) And most of all to submit to God, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jas.4:7 esv)

All the above are examples for us as Christians to follow in being submissive to the will of God. Our Lord Jesus gives us the greatest example of submission, by submitting to the will of His Father which resulted in total victory over death for Him and all of us who accept Him for salvation. In the garden of Gethsemane just hours before His crucifixion Jesus submitted to His Fathers will by saying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mt.26:39b nlt)

Jesus submitted to God’s plan for salvation for us even though it meant His suffering. With His submission victory was assured. Many of us have a cup of suffering that is place before us, and we like Jesus ask that it might be taken away from us. But how many of us like Jesus are willing to say, ‘Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’ Submitting to God’s plan is the only way to ultimate victory.

Read: Matthew 26:36-46 NLT – Jesus Prays in Gethsemane – Then Jesus – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Submit, Accept, and Lay Up

Loring Schultz

“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.” Job 22:21-22 NIV

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

Occasionally encouraging and direct words are spoken from an unlikely source whose intent was not to encourage but rebuke. Such an occasion occurred in the Old Testament book of Job. The man Job had gone through the lost of his family and all his possessions almost instantaneously by the hand of Satan by God’s permission. (Job 1:1-2:13) He was visited by his three friends to mourn with him and provide comfort. Their heart was in the right place for they did so for seven days without saying a word. They should have remained silent because what followed was their interpretation of Job’s circumstances, saying that he had sinned.

Sadly, some Christians today in their effort to comfort those in times of trouble will point the accusing figure to some sin in others lives leading to the distress they are in. Surely it could have been sin that brought on the tragic events, and it may not have been, but was God’s plan for His purposes. The Bible states Job did not sin, but it was for God’s purpose He allowed Job to suffer. Job’s friends were convinced he must have sinned towards God and this dialogue with him makes up the content of the book of Job. Eliphaz, one of Job’s three friends, while accusing Job spouts out godly wisdom for all who have sinned and need to reconcile with God. Although it was good advice, Job didn’t need it for he did not sin. Nevertheless, the words spoken, even in an accusing state, are truthful and can be applied to fallen believers.

For all of us this passage from Job is right on in reconciling ourselves back to God when we do sin. Submitting to God will back the peace we lost with Him. Accepting the instructions He gives us in His Word will draw us closer to Him by keeping us on the straight and narrow, and laying up His words in our hearts will seal them helping us in our daily walk with Him.

Read: Job 22:21-30 NIV – “Submit to God and be at peace with – Bible Gateway