Submission is not really the first word that strikes instant excitement in a person of the Christian faith, because it takes trust. Submitting to someone to serving other takes dedication and selflessness. When I began to read the chapter on Submission in Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline, I did not expect it to impact me so deeply.
The word submission as a hispanic female never sat well with me growing up seeing submission being abused. As I began to mature and grow in the church, there was a part of me that would grimace when hearing the church call wives to submit to their husband. I was not against submission; I just did not like the way that word made me feel and seeing submission abused in my life did not help. As I began to read this chapter with walls already up, heart guarded, God began to ease my heart. No one was trying to control me, and that was the part that I felt God was trying to reveal to me.
True submission is "the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way" (111). I am the first-born in my family, and I am very used to getting my own way. I notice that I do get upset and annoyed when plans do not pan out exactly the way I envisioned in my mind. When I think about Jesus and who He was, He was never abrasive or domineering. He was so gracious and selfless even to the point of death. With one request to His Father, he could have stopped his death on the cross, but instead he cried "forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:24).
"Jesus shattered the customs of his day when he lived out the cross-life by taking women seriously and by being willing to meet with children. He lived the cross-life when he took a towel and washed the feet of his disciples. This Jesus who easily could have called down a legion of angels to his aid chose instead the cross-death of Calvary. Jesus’ life was the cross-life of submission and service. Jesus’ death was the cross-death of conquest by suffering" (115).
I want to redeem the word, submission, and make it a word that does not have abusive or condemning meaning. I encourage you today to self-reflect and look into your heart if there is a place that protects "your" way, "your" plans. Apply submission by simply giving up your way to make room for God's way and the way of others.
TAKE AWAY:
1. Submission is not a word for the weak. It is simply forfeiting your way to make room for God's way.
2. Redeem the word, submission, by being an example to others of what healthy submission is.
MEDITATION:
“30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
DAILY CHALLENGE:
1. Think about one area in your life that you get your way and if you didn't you would get upset. Instead of forging your way this time around, try a different way of being by surrendering your way. Be open to the suggestions of others and be flexible with what God is trying to do.
2. What kind of person are you when plans change?
3. What is an area that you can apply submission and not live in frustration?