Character Trait – Submissive; Obeying God with all my heart, even when I don’t want to.
Memory Verse – James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Submission is not a word we are very fond of. We have grown up in a country that teaches us to be strong and make a name for ourselves. We are taught to build up and establish our own individual kingdoms rather than submit to be a citizen in another man’s kingdom. There is a rebellious spirit within us all that does not like to be told what to do and how to live. But this is not what the Bible teaches. God’s Word tells us about a Heavenly Father who is perfect in love and wisdom. He has adopted us as His own and brought us into His family, and we are now children of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
As members of the family of God, we must learn to be humble and submit to His leadership. This does not come easy to us as people who have grown up in the world. As Christians, we know it is true we must follow Christ, but we struggle to submit. God knows this, and that is why His Word teaches us so much about it. Proverbs is filled with wise instructions on submission and obedience. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God knows best, and we would be wise to listen and learn from Him.
I want to encourage you to embrace submission to Christ. Begin to use this word more and grow comfortable with it in your faith journey. You are not submitting to a cruel tyrant who wants to abuse you and do you harm. Instead, the opposite it true. We submit to obey and follow a Heavenly Father who is steadfast in love and faithfulness. As we learn to love and submit to following God, our children will see and grow up knowing submission is not a bad word.
Challenge: This week, when your child gets frustrated and rebels against your leadership, I want you to remember our call to submit to God. Many times, we get frustrated and want to rebel against God, but we had to mature and learn submission. Let this truth give you patience to speak truth in love o your child. Share Proverbs 3:5-6 with them, and lead them in the way of Jesus.
