“Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:18-21 (ESV)
I will be the first to admit that I don’t have it all together. And I certainly don’t have my walk with Christ fully figured out. However, through my years of rebellion, new life in Christ, and growth in Christ, I have figured out a few things along the way. The first and most important one is that if I want to have successful relationships, especially within my family, I must be able to submit to others out of reverence for Christ.
Submitting to one another — or submitting to anything — is viewed by the world as a weak and unhealthy way to live your life. The world says be strong and independent, and look out for yourself first.
The problem with this worldly way of thinking? When it comes to family, there is “no ‘I’ in team.” If one member is independent from another, then there will only be division and discord. But when a family submits to one another, with Christ as the head of household, there’s unity, gratefulness, forgiveness, mercy, and joy.
A true mark of being a disciple in Christ is to live a life of submission. This doesn’t mean we become a doormat for our loved ones or for the society in which we live. But it does mean that in all things we submit our lives to His way — God’s way. When we surrender our lives to Him, we learn to submit to each other in Him, creating a very healthy and vibrant way of life.
Father, help me to want to submit my life to You in all areas, especially my family. Teach me to submit to others out of reverence for You. Help me to re-learn how You want me to live my life and to not be led by others or society. You are my first love, and I only want to live for You. Amen.
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