I recently read Darlene Schacht's book 'The Virtuous Life' and found one chapter in particular very fascinating and eye-opening.
It was the chapter on humility and submission.
She says here:
"...Submission is a willful and deliberate act of service that we bring to the Lord.
Our flesh wants nothing more than to be in control, to win every argument, and to put ourselves first. Those who exercise humility take up their cross daily by laying down the desire of the flesh for the good of another."
Have you ever thought of submission as a willful act?
To truly submit it must be our willful choice.
Darlene then shares this verse.
Jesus said:
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18
This is one of my favorite Scriptures. Here Jesus is letting us know his life was not taken from Him, but rather that He gave it up willingly in submission.
He completely submitted to His Father in heaven. It was a willful act.
Darlene continues with this:
"Do you see the power in those two verses? It's incredible! There wasn't a single moment during His life when Jesus was under the thumb of mankind. Every step that He took to the cross was a willful and deliberate act of service to His Father."
When we walk with Christ, He asks nothing less of us. He wants us to willfully and wholly submit to Him.
She then quotes Mathew 16:24
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Darlene ends this chapter with these encouraging words:
"The next time you're told submission is a step back for women, remember that every step that you take to the cross is a willful and deliberate act of service to God."
Buy it HERE on Amazon
When I find it difficult to submit to my husband, I remind myself that I am doing it out of obedience to God. It is what He calls us to do as wives. Sounds like a great book! visiting from #RaRalinkup
ReplyDeleteI'm also your neighbor at Unite!
ReplyDeleteGlad you stopped by Kristen! Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing. : )
DeleteI think that word gets a bad rap. I heard this story once, though I will probably not tell it as eloquently. There were two sheep crossing a thin mountain pass, one headed one way and the other the opposite way. Soon they met head to head. They could not back up, only go forward. There was not enough room to go around or turn around. They stood at an impass for a time. Not knowing what to do, they just stared at eachother and neither would budge. They were effectively stuck/trapped there. But then one of the sheep bent and crouched down, which allowed the other sheep to carefully lean over and step behind him. Then the first sheep stood up and continued on its way. Submission!
ReplyDeleteI think we don't get it sometimes. Teamwork, etc...it doesn't mean "You are nothing." It means, "let me help" or something like that. Who re-defined it into something bad?
'let me help'... how profound.
DeleteI love this verse in Genesis: "And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
We as wife's are a helper to our husbands as well as comparable (like, equal, equivalent, similar) to him.
This is a good thing. : )
Thanks for sharing this story Sandi!
Yes, I do cringe when I see the word "submission" but mainly because it's been distorted and abused so much. I love the way you define it here! Submission is still hard to do, but at least it's the way Jesus did it, which keeps everyone's dignity intact but still serves and self-sacrifices. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree the word has been distorted and abused by mankind through the sinful nature. I'm learning it's so important to know who God is and go from there. Knowing that God does not manipulate or use evil towards us I can see submission in a different light. I love this quote by Tozer:
Delete“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
This is so true, we must always start with God. When we listen to mankind's views on submission it will get distorted and man will abuse it. We must listen to God knowing who He is.
I agree with what Lisa says! It's a distorted word and been used to browbeat people (usually women and children and minorities) into acting a way that pleases or satisfies men. I don't have a problem submitting myself to God, because he loves me unconditionally and has my best interests close to his heart. Submitting to other people takes a whole different kind of obedience--I usually have to duke it out with the Lord about how I should submit, when I should submit, and what it should look like ;).
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is so difficult to submit! But like I said in my reply to Lisa, I'm getting to know God and His point of view. This is so important and makes it easier to submit. He actually gives us the freedom to submit, in a healthy and godly way, when we truly surrender and get to know Him!
DeleteThanks for your comment! : )
I love how you tied submission with freedom! LOVE this! I'll be chewing on this for a while!
ReplyDeleteIt's made me think a lot too!
DeleteGlad you stopped by Bethany.
I have been struggling with this lately and needed this reminder. Thank you for sharing these encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteGlad they were helpful.
DeleteThanks for stopping by. : )
Sounds like another good one! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was. : )
DeleteOh, when I remarried and also was a new Christian, "that word" was not a word I wanted to hear. But as I wanted to please my new husband and also the Lord, my new Lord, I studied the Bible, talked to my husband about submission, and also did several, well, maybe many, Bible studies on submission. I have been blessed for 22 years now in a beautiful marriage where "submission" is a wonderful act...not just a word.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this book.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thanks for sharing this Linda. Beautiful. : )
DeleteSounds like a good read, Cathy! Biblical submission is directly tied to freedom in all areas of our life. No, it's not easy, but when we first submit to God, the Holy Spirit then empowers us to learn to submit in the other areas where God calls us to do so. Most any biblical based read on submission is worthy of our time, as our culture has done such a good job of distorting the truth of what God intended. We can all learn by being redirected to the truth of God's word. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGreat comment! It's key to remember the Holy Spirit empowers us to be able to submit, as well as continually redirects us to the Word of God. Thanks for sharing. : )
DeleteYes, I think that submission has been widely misunderstood, especially in marriage. It was a great chapter for me to write in my book because it made me really search the scriptures to see what God is really asking me to do. It can be hard for a wife who has been wronged to begin trusting in her husband to lead her, but it was so helpful for me to know that ultimately, I am submitting to God.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is so helpful to know when we submit we are ultimately submitting to God. Great reminder. : )
DeleteHonestly I find it hard to submit or surrender because I always want to be in control of things. It is hard and challenging, but also rewarding when we let go and let God. :)
ReplyDeleteI strive to trust Him more.
Submitting is really a way of trusting the Lord isn't it? Thanks for stopping by Lux! : )
DeleteYes submission is hard for me too but it's God's desire for us. Sounds like an encouraging read.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it's His desire than it must be good. : )
DeleteI just had to see what you had to say on submission since that was the topic of my post as well! Well said. Glad I visited from Weekend Brew
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, I will have to come by and read your post! Glad you stopped by. : )
DeleteYes! This word is seen as a bad word, but it is actually so good. It is a movement towards Christ; I love that picture. Way to go. Great post. Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.
ReplyDelete"a movement towards Christ"...I love that, so true!
DeleteThanks for stopping by Kelly. : )
I have this book and I haven't had time to read it yet (but I'm looking forward to it)! Thanks for reminding me to get it out! :) Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I look forward to what you'll link up this week! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those books you can read any chapter first. Very much like a devotional type book. Hope you enjoy it. : )
DeleteThis sounds like really good teaching! I think submission is one of the least understood tenets of our faith. Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday this week!
ReplyDeleteTina
Yes I agree. : ) Thanks for stopping by Tina.
DeleteThis hasn't always been an area that I've found easy - well, I still don't always find it easy, but at least I am getting to the point where I can realize when I need to act differently! Thank you for sharing with us at Grace & Truth!
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