“Submission to the Scriptures is submission to God. Rebellion against the Scriptures is rebellion against God.” ~ Kevin DeYoung
Humanity is obsessed with minding its own business and ignoring God’s business altogether. Humans go to any lengths to get what they can from the world, not even realizing they are delusional, believing they can rest satisfied with the world if they can manage it on their terms. Submitting to the kingdom life brings with it much persecution, criticism, and silent scorn. Jesus Himself suffered the same ridicule from His family and the world; why shouldn’t we expect to experience much of the same. Free will gives a spiritual loophole if we wish to avoid submitting our lives over to God. If we detour away from God’s plans, we will suffer the wrath of our ways. When we suffer, we must know it’s not God’s wrath but the wrath of the sin produced from living on self-propulsion.
God is not a coercing God. God allows humans to exercise free will along any lines they wish. God provides space for Satan, the devil, the principalities and powers of this world, the enemy, the dark side, the lower power, demons, evil on all fronts. We don’t have to like it, but God’s purpose isn’t to appease our wishes. God has one purpose, and that’s God’s eternal purpose for all of creation. God is not concerned about our feelings and will not cave to our emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual state. Evil sometimes prevails in the world, and that drives humans crazy. These worldly conflicts will make us more of what we already are or move us towards holiness. If we learn to conclude our prayers with “May, Your will not mine always materialize,” then we can spare ourselves the severe mental and emotional unsettledness that this world delivers. If we embrace God’s eternal purpose, we will discover a life beyond our wildest dreams and share in the joy of living that only the kingdom of God can deliver.
Scripture Readings
Reflection Questions
- What did you take away from today’s reflection and scripture readings?
- How submitted are you to God?
- What should complete submission look like?
- Why do humans struggle to submit to God’s business?
- Why does God accommodate the devil and evil in the world?
- Who in your life do you experience friction and rejection because you choose to follow Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, Your ways are not my ways. Please help me shake this desire to get what I can from the world. Allow Your Spirit to take over my heart and move me toward submission to Your eternal purpose. I wish to experience the joy You have made possible to only those who submit to living in the kingdom life on Your terms. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever, Amen.
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