Submission

I am currently reading the following books:

Crazy Love
Sex God
Journey to Intercession
A Better Way: A Case for Love
Praying the Names of God
1 Samuel
Celebration of Discipline
Hinds Feet for High Places
Discipleship Essentials

Yes, that is a lot of books, however, they are the ones the Lord has me in right now. When it comes to non-fiction I don't tear through them in the same manner that I devour fiction. This is the first time I have ever been reading this many non-fiction at once. Two of the books are guides to prayer. One is a book from the Bible. One is a book for my Spiritual Disciplines class so I am reading it as we cover each discipline, one book is for girls group, one is for our Discipleship triads, and the other three are just because they interest me.

So when I have a random hour to read, I go to my desk and choose one of these books. What I find amazing is how God orchestrates it all. Almost every time I pick of one of these books, the chapter I am on in that book is extremely relevant to what the Lord is showing me in other places as well. A week or so ago, if felt like God was cramming Creation down my throat. Telos, the church I am currently attending, was talking about it, our discipleship book talked about it, we discussed it in our Truth Project class, Sex God had a chapter about it, and there were other sources.

This week the topic is submission. This is a topic our Leadership has brought up to our LeadTime class as it is an area where many of us need to grow. When we came here we signed a contract that said we wouldn't drink, watch R rated movies, and a number of other things. We also are not suppose to have any facial piercing. While these seem like small things, they are things our Leadership has asked us not to do for this year. I have been involved in Christian organizations for a time and it is standard stuff-other the R rated movies.

In high school and college there are two verses that greatly influenced all of my actions. There are a number of other verses that deal with submission and why we should, but in the moment these are normally the verses that pop into my brain the help me to submit and to do so with the right attitude.  two passages that I filtered a lot of my attitudes and actions through are:

Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, do it heartlily as for the Lord and not for man."
and
Romans 13:1, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."

The first time this topic was discussed with our LeadTime class, I have sat silently in the discussion and dint not contributed much. I didn't feel like this was an area that I struggled in. I used to deal with this a lot more, but I feel like I have a healthy view of submission. Despite this, I didn't share any of what I had learned. I felt prompted to, but then I kept my mouth shut.

Then I read a chapter in Foster's book about the spiritual discipline of submission. I really enjoyed the chapter and thought he explained things well. I love it when the Lord has taught you something and then He confirms through what you read or discuss with other people. This is how I felt as I read this chapter.

One idea that Foster throws out that I particularly like that I hadn't really thought much on was the freedom that comes with the discipline of submission. He does with all the disciplines. He discusses the freedom that comes with that spiritual discipline. The freedom of submission is the freedom to not have to have your own way. This is huge, and as I thought about it so true. Now, I tend to be a control person and I like to have my own way. However, I have found this to be so true. The other idea he focuses a lot on is the concept that as we should submit to one another in love because we value and recognize the worth of the other individual.

He also discusses how a husband is to submit to his wife, and how masters are to submit to their slaves.

So the next day we are in class discussing this idea of submission. Classmates are still struggling with this. I share some of the perspective I have gained over the years. I read a few quotes from Foster. Then as I am sitting there listening to this discussion of submission, the Lord presses upon my heart that while I do a pretty good job of submitting to my authority, I need to work on the other part of submission. The Lord often places me over people. He challenged me in how I was doing in submitting to those under me. 

There is Scripture after Scripture about a leaders role in submission. Then even more so, there is Jesus' example. He humbled Himself in every way possible to come down to earth and to serve us by paying the punishment we deserved for our sin. As if that wasn't enough, during His time on earth, He practiced submission, not only to the Father, but to others. He selflessly served others. He regarded others as more important than Himself. He chose not to exert His power in situations where we were better served by His suffering through His humanity.

Man, I have some room for growth in this area of submission. I started contemplating my attitude in serving the Littles and my fellow Bigs. I thought back to Korea and how I submitted to my students, to my co-workers. A

After class was over though I had this amazing revelation from the Lord, I didn't do much with it outside of a quick prayer to the Lord. The other day, I decided to read through 1 Samuel. It starts with the story of Hannah and her desire for children. While I don't know that everyone would consider the first chapter or so a story of submission, I see submission in it. Hannah begs the Lord to open her womb and allow her to bear a child. She promises that if the Lord does this she will give her son to the Lord. The Lord grants her wish and as soon as he is weaned Hannah follows through on her promise. What trust she has in the Lord. Here she finally has the son her heart has longed for, for years. At the time that she gave Samuel over to the Lord she had no guarantee that she would ever bear another child. How hard this must have been for her, yet she does so joyfully. She is submitting herself and her son to the Lord.

Last night I wasn't quite ready for bed so I grab Sex God to read a chapter. I am on the chapter titled, "Worth dying for". This chapter discusses the topic of submission. It stresses the value we have and a Biblical view of submission. It discusses submission and the role that both people play in submission and coming to realize the beauty of mutual submission, not only in a marriage relationship, but in other ones as well. It was the exact idea the Foster discussed. It hammered in what the Lord showed me at the end of class.

Our submission should come out of a reverence for Christ. It should come out of recognizing others for the extreme worth and value they have. Even in the small things, we can honor God and others through our willingness to die to ourselves--even when the things we are being asked to submit in seem trivial and stupid and of no eternal value. I can honor the Lord, and our leadership, by not watching an R rated movie this entire year. A simple thing that at first glance could be very minor and inconsequential, really is an opportunity to live for His kingdom. 

By submitting, I honor God and others. I show the Lord that I recognize this small thing He is asking of me for this year and what to honor Him in this. I want to practice submission to Him in the small things so that when He asks me to submit to Him in the bigger things that are hard, it is easier. 

Lord, may I not forget the commands You have given to masters and parents in their attitudes and the ways they are to serve those under them. May Your truths be written on my heart so that I might not sin against You. May I never forget the extreme value and worth of those around me--those whom You found worth dying for.