Daily Devotion: Submit To One Another

Scripture:
Ephesians 5: 21-33

Main Verse:
Ephesians 5: 21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Observation:
The apostle Paul's final reminders in the book of Ephesians was about submission, and I believe it was of great importance because he wrote about three areas in which we are to submit ourselves to one another. First was in our marriage (Ephesians 5: 21-33), in the family (Ephesians 6: 1-4), and in the workplace (Ephesians 6: 5-9). Why is submission an important character of a Christian? When we submit ourselves to someone, we are giving that person authority over us. We are to submit ourselves to God, because He alone has authority over our lives. But in the context of these verses, Paul wrote  "submit to one another." It is not a one-directional, top-to-bottom kind of submission. There is mutual submission that springs from every Christian's love for one another and out of our fear for the Lord. Therefore, because it is a reciprocal act, Paul is not exactly referring to submission as one person's authority over another but the act of serving one another.

Application:
Who else has given us the best example of submission? When the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross, he was submitting to the Father's will AND he was doing it out of His great love for all mankind. It was the greatest act of service. I'm not saying that we should follow the sacrifice of our Lord in order to follow his command about submission. We are not capable. But we can serve others. We can serve our brothers and sisters in Christ by being more loving towards them, both through our words and in our actions. Wives can serve their husbands by caring for them and treating them with respect. In the same way, husbands can serve their wives by loving them and leading them to a life of holiness. Children can show submission by being obedient, and parents can show they care by not provoking them to anger. Employees are to serve their bosses by doing their best, and bosses can show their appreciation by treating them as valuable workers. It is a mutual thing. We are placing others above ourselves because of our genuine love for them when we submit to one another.

Prayer:
Father, teach me to be more gracious to others, and let me have a heart that wishes to serve. I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in me so I may obey your Word. Help me to have a better understanding of how I can submit myself to others out of love and fear for you. In Jesus's name I pray. AMEN.