“Submission involves permission—inviting the Holy Spirit to govern your behavior and purify your motives.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 21, 2022
But also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Romans 4:24
What is the difference between trusting Jesus as your Savior and confessing Him as your Lord? Trusting Jesus as Savior and confessing Him as Lord results in your salvation and continues in obedience as you submit to Him as Lord. Being saved and being submitted position you to grow as a genuine follower of Jesus. Receiving Christ as your Savior and Lord is the beginning of your great faith adventure of submitting to and following Him. Jesus as Lord of your life means you defer to Him as all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. Jesus Christ is Lord because He conquered sin on the cross, overcame death by His resurrection, and ascended to heaven to be seated by the right hand of his Father. Better to confess Him as Lord every day, because one day…everyone will!
Jesus was already King of Kings and Lord, even as a sweet, divine baby in the manger. Humility had him follow the path of every person in his birth and life, so He could bring life to every person out of His death and resurrection. Charles Spurgeon punctuates the preeminence of Christ’s Lordship at His birth announcement and the occasion of His birth, “Faith has learned to think of Him, even before His birth, as the Christ of God, and to give heed to the angel’s message to Joseph, ‘Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.’ Faith also bows at the manger with the shepherds worshipping, and with the wise men from the East presenting gifts, realizing that the infant is the Infinite and that the babe of Bethlehem is the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever…your Lord!
“Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
Submission to Jesus as Lord of your life can be voluntary or involuntary—willing or reluctant. Submission involves permission—inviting the Holy Spirit to govern your behavior and purify your motives. Love invites and delights in submission, trusting in the goodwill of God. Submission begins with God and carries over with others in your life. Humility submits to team members and team leaders at work and to the family at home. Love invites and delights in deferring to another’s ideas and leadership…not having to be in control and demand its way.
Move beyond just a fraternal fellowship with Jesus your friend, to a paternal submission to your heavenly Father. Fear bows to submission…not having to know all the details of what might happen…and pride kneels in prayer to submission, letting go of having to be proven right. Jesus is your Lord who loves you, who will lead you through valleys with comforting care and up mountains with persevering grace and strength. “Declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!” Saved to continue in a life of confessing Jesus as Lord and submitting to His will for your life. Love invites Lordship!
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I bow to your Lordship and submit to your will for my life, through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What area of your life do you need to allow the Lord to control 100%? Your finances, your relationships, your discretionary time?
Related Reading
Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 8:6, 12:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 3:15
Worship Resource
Hillsong Worship: This I Believe (The Creed)
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