Women

Joshua 1:6-9
Ephesians 5:18-33
Colossians 3:12-4:1
Romans 11:34-36

Do you have any words in your home that are off-limits? Anything not allowed to be spoken because it is considered just plain naughty? There was one word early on in our parenting which I considered to be off-limits, and if our children heard the word as we were out and about, their eyes would get big. The word began with an “s” and though not really a “bad” word per se, I still felt this descriptive word was best left unsaid. That word was stupid.  I know, I know, there are worse words out there…

There is an “s” word we read about in today’s passage, and many of us struggle with this word as much as I did with the word “stupid” (some of us may even think this word is stupid!). That word is “submission”. In a world where autonomy and independence flourish, the words submission and obedience often do not.

How do you feel about this “s” word? To what or who do you personally submit? Is it harder to walk in obedience in some places than others? Personally, I tend to enjoy making my own rules no matter who or what is calling for my submission. 

On the flip side, there was a time in my life when I thought submission to my husband was to come before my submission to Christ. I based this on my desire to not disappoint my husband or endure his negative emotions. There were times I would just “obey” him rather than stand in the conviction of my own heart to walk a biblical road I knew to be right. 

What exactly is Ephesians 5:18-33 calling us to, though? As we read our Scripture passages for today, it could be easy to forget these verses are written in light of the work of our salvation, which Christ completed. (See our study on Ephesians 1-3 and Romans 11:34-36)

This is essential!
We cannot separate these teachings in chapter 5 of a letter that has relied fully on Christ’s work for us explained in the previous 4 chapters; everything stems from this foundation!

If we do not remember this and instead take one or two verses out of context, we will quickly find ourselves submitting from a place of works-based righteousness, rather than from a place of the beauty of the Lord and His saving blood through the gospel.

Ladies, if we do not have the Lord firmly on the throne of our hearts with our identity rooted in Him, we will work really hard to please ourselves, our husbands, and everyone else, but we won’t be pleasing the Lord. 

Stop a minute and ask yourself, “Who am I submitting to and why? Does this further biblical principles or counter them?” Our submission is to come from knowing and sharing in the joy of Christ submitting to our Father perfectly. (Luke 22:41-42) Furthermore, submission is a call to willingly place ourselves under the banner of love and freedom we find in Christ. 

Colossians 3:12-17 lists several characteristics we are to put on as God’s beloved ones. The characteristic I want us to ponder today is thankfulness. I have personally been convicted lately that, rather than leaning into thankfulness for God’s grace, through which “He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6), my heart too often tries to crawl up onto the Lord’s throne in my own strength and assume His role. This usurps the Almighty’s rule in my life and is antithetical to biblical submission.

As God’s daughter, how are we submitting or placing ourselves under the banner of His love? This practice begins with thankfulness by realizing we are chosen and beloved because of Christ. Through Him, we are accepted. Regardless of our marital status, as part of the Bride of Christ, we can walk out the call to submit to Christ, and to others within the community of believers. 

How do we do this, you may ask? Well, there are a couple things to keep in mind.

As a Mom, I often prayed Joshua 1:9 for my boys,
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Today, we need to hear those words from Joshua, too. As believers, we need these words in our daily walk with Christ and with one another. They will help us in our efforts to live out the submission to which we have been called. 

1 Peter 3:4 is also helpful here as we are told to adorn ourselves with “what is inside the heart – the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit[.]” What does it look like for a woman’s adornment to come from hidden, imperishable beauty in the Lord? What does submission look like from this posture?

I believe this is a posture of leaning on the identity Christ gives us, seeking His will and His way through prayer and His word, and then walking in Spirit-empowered obedience in both hard and easy places.

We must ask ourselves how we are emulating the perfect submission of Christ in our own lives. Where are we failing to lean into godly submission, and how are we confessing and turning back each day to Christ and His finished work?

Remember this: you are loved with a very costly love, and it is yours by amazing grace! Sisters, assured of our beloved identity in Him and flooded with thankfulness for His saving grace, let’s pursue volitional, godly submission!