Dear Friend, How are you? I’m well. Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” And he went on to say to children, “Obey your parents” and to bondservants, “Be obedient to those who are your masters in sincerity of heart.” Would these commands apply only to wives, children and bondservants (subordinates)? I don’t think so. Before Paul said this, he said to the saints in Ephesus, “Submit to one another in the fear of God.” So Paul encouraged each one of us in the Body of Christ to submit to one another in the fear of God. Earlier this year, I read the gospel of John and I was very surprised to read below: Then Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:1~5) I’ve never read this incident carefully before and it was my first time to realize how powerful His name is. When Jesus simply said, “I am He”, these men drew back and fell to the ground! He has all the power and even by His breath, He could have smashed everyone. I often imagined what if He overturned the situation, showing His mighty power, before He was crucified. Despite all the power and authority He has, He chose to submit Himself to the will of the Father, for you and me. Interestingly enough, when I was in Sister Margaret’s class recently, she mentioned this story and told the students to look up these verses in person. I wanted to write on submission long ago, as I think it’s what our Father wants us to do. Then, I happened to see Pastor John Fenn’s teaching, “Submission and Obedience Not the Same.” He explained submission is quality of the heart or the attitude a person has and obedience is physical act. And he went on to say we can be obedient but not submissive. Likewise we can be submissive but not obedient. I found his teachings very enlightening and interesting and want to share the link of YouTube. He shared a testimony of Smith Wigglesworth and his wife. Before Smith Wigglesworth accepted Jesus, he forbid his wife from going the church in one evening. But she prepared for his dinner, saying to him that she would go to church. And she went to church. So, Smith locked her out in the outside and she had to sleep on the stood in the cold outside. The next morning, when Smith opened the door of his house, his wife jumped up, not grudgingly at all and said, “Good morning, I will prepare for your coffee and breakfast!” Her attitude was such that he got convicted and he accepted the Lord. I think it is the example of his wife’s disobedience by act, but submission in her heart and attitude. And I believe our Lord, Jesus showed us both submission in His heart and obedience by His act. Friend, It’s my prayer that we obey the Lord and submit ourselves to Him. And we submit to one another in the fear of the Lord. We live out the Words in our home, our workplace, our church and our community. We gaze upon Jesus and we become alike. Have a bliss! Good Friday! Yunee Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Comments are closed.
|
Archives
May 2023
Categories
All
|