LOVE: SUBMISSION TO HIS WORD

10/19/2022

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:10).

Number 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" And in Psalm 119:81, the Scripture says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven." From these two texts, we can grasp the understanding that God is bound by His Word. When He speaks, consider it established! When we know this about God, our opening text will take on a new meaning.

James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." This is God's prescribed way to a life of glory; there is no other way outside of submission to God's Word. Some people think they can say whatever and do whatever and still expect the results from the Word. But the truth is that God is bound by His Word and anything outside of His Word is foreign to Him. He will not conform to the wishes or will of men. We are the ones that must conform to His will by submitting to His Word.

Submission is a denial to the flesh of what the flesh longs for. And this comes at a cost because it will cause your flesh to hurt. But to submit to God, you must subjugate your will, emotion, and body to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, "...I discipline my body and bring it into subjection" (1 Corinthians 9:27). In other words, I batter my thinking to line up with God's Word. For example, when someone wrongs you, instead of letting that cancerous thought of bitterness and unforgiveness to take root, you submit to the instruction of God's Word to forgive and walk in love. Anything outside of that is rebellion. Psalm 68:6 says, "God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a scorched land." Rebellion against God's Word will always lead to frustration and stagnation in life.

1 Peter 5:5-6 says, "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." Saints, submission is for your glory. Fight every thought that suggests otherwise. Become as nothing in your eyes and so that God can have His way in you and through you. Let go of that bitterness and you will see the glory of God.

God bless you.

Faith-Filled Confession:

I am walking in love today. In Jesus name.

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Isaiah 59-61; 1 Thessalonians 4