THE BENEFIT OF SUBMISSION

06/18/2024

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Marriage is the closest depiction of the life of the Christian. Why? The Bible says, “But the one being joined to the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17 BLB). In other words, the Lord is not apart from you and you are not apart from the Lord. 

The Prophet Isaiah is very apt to describe this divine relationship. He says, “For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth” (Isaiah 54:5). Now, a husband or spouse, in divine revelation, is not a partner. And yes, I know that the world has made you believe that your earthly spouse is your partner. No. This is wrong. A spouse is a part of you as you are a part of your spouse. The life you share in the context of your marriage union is indistinguishable. For context, the marriage between spouses is an earthly one that binds the spouses together as long as they are alive on this earth. Until one of them sleeps in the Lord, they are one indivisible entity. 

That said, the relationship between you and the Lord is a spiritual marriage and if you understand this, you cannot be yoked by any spiritual bondage without your consent or without renouncing your salvation. But I digress. 

Today, Jesus says to you, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24). What does this imply? It implies submission, in the exact sense that God expects a wife to submit to her husband. Ephesians 5:22-23 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” With absolute clarity, the Lord Jesus is the husband of the Christian in the exact same way that a husband is to his wife. And the only duty of the wife (which is you) in the case of the Lord, is to submit. 

As a matter of fact, Luke’s account gives us a little more information as to the frequency of this submission to the Lord as husband. “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). 

Now, you can have your own plans and means as many earthly wives have, divergent from their earthly husbands. But if you desire to enjoy the covering, resources, and abilities of the Lord, then Luke 9:23 is the way. Denying yourself daily means, embracing your union with Jesus, and His headship of that union in every decision, association, and action, willingly and daily. 

Taking up your cross daily means, maintaining the consciousness that the life you now live is shared with Christ. Paul states this consciousness in Galatians 2:20 which says, 

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The authority that Christ bestows is only activated by submission to Him as your husband. The role of the husband is to marshal out direction, provision, and protective covering in love. The role of a wife is to maintain complete harmony with the direction, provision, and protective covering in the love of her husband. 

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32). Talk to the Lord now. Tell Him how much you want to please Him; asking Him what He will have you do for Him today. There’s direction, provision, and a protective covering for you today from the bosom of the Lord.

Have a resplendently beautiful day! 

Faith-Filled Confession

I abide in the direction, provision, and protective covering of the Lord, who is my husband and maker today. His pleasure is my command. I hang on His words to me for they are my life. Hallelujah!

Prayer Direction

• Pray for families experiencing trauma due to missing loved ones. Pray for their peace and comfort, and that the missing individuals will be found and restored to their families (Psalm 147:3).

• Pray for ministers contemplating suicide. Pray that the love of God will prevail against such thoughts and intentions (Jeremiah 29:11).

• Pray for the sick in your family. Declare healing for their bodies in Jesus' name (Jeremiah 30:17).

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: Nehemiah 9-11; Acts 4:1-22