Daily Devotional
Am I Willing to Submit to You?
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
Ephesians 5:18-21
October 21, 2024
Ponder This
The Bible commands us to love. This love is not optional, but it’s not automatic either. If it were automatic, we wouldn’t be commanded to do it. In the Old Testament we’re told to love. But in the New Testament Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). This new commandment is that we are to love as He loved; that is, with a new quality.
We lay our lives down for one another. Christians are to submit ourselves to God first, then to one another. Biblical submission is one equal willingly and lovingly placing himself or herself under the authority of another equal so that God may be glorified. The various members of my body have to submit to the other parts of my body sometimes. We’re in the Body of Christ, and we care for one another. Therefore, I must sometimes submit to you, and you must submit to one another. We all will come to a time when it is right to submit and right for somebody to lead. Every part of our old selves, including our self-centeredness, is crucified with Christ, and we need to learn how to yield to, love, and to submit to one another.
- When was the last time you loved someone in a sacrificial way?
- Who has exemplified loving others in a sacrificial way? How could you imitate that example?
Practice This
Love someone in a sacrificial way this week; challenge yourself to do that every week.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
