Finding Strength In The Power Of Submission
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21
This sentence comes before a part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that guides and empowers family relationships. It tells us why God wants us to submit to each other. And how.
Out of reverence for Christ.
The Words of God about Jesus give us reverence for him. He never began. He created us. He came from heaven to BE FLESH! To be one of us. To be our brother. He came to a world that hated him and he died to save it. He died to be with you, and your spouse, and your children. He died so we could be family.
Jesus submitted to his Father’s plan to save us even though Satan raged against him with unimaginable temptations and torture. Jesus remained sinless to save us. To give up his life in our place. Every hidden personal and family sin you are so ashamed of is drowned in the blood of the Lamb.
The truth that Jesus himself was a servant, a sacrifice for our sin is true submission. That truth creates awe and reverence in our hearts for Jesus. From that reverence for him, not because we deserve it, we submit to each other. WE treat each other like Jesus treats us.
When I meditate on Christ’s submission to save me, I feel the sting of knowing how many times I have thought I am too good and too important to submit to my husband or to those in authority over me. My Jesus died for my sin of thinking I am better than others.
That is the why of submitting and it is the how.
Since Jesus submitted himself to his Father to save me, my submission becomes worship to him.
It is the same for husbands when God calls them to submit to him and be the spiritual leader of the home and love their wives as themselves.
It is the same for children when God calls them to submit to their parents.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Use this verse as a conversation starter for your family:
Think of places in the Bible where you remember Jesus submitting to his Father to love and save you.
Talk about what makes it hard to submit to each other.
Share how what Jesus did to save you gives you reverence for him.
Pray together for God’s power to replace your selfishness with love toward each other. Praise him for his forgiveness that makes us perfect in his sight.