Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Read Ephesians 5:15 – 21.
You and I are not under each other’s authority but under God’s. The result of this relationship is that our heavenward stance—submission to the Lord—produces flexibility in our relationships with people. Ephesians 5:21 speaks of the “fear of God.” This is not cowardice and abject dread, but holy respect and awe. With such an attitude, the everyday contacts you have with people will reflect the perfections of the Lord Jesus Christ—perhaps in small but certainly significant ways.
Finally, in this matter of submission you need to be willing for the other person’s advancement. If you’re truly serving God, then you’ll make room in your thinking and attitudes for the other person to get a little more exposure than you do, a little more praise. Instead of saying, “Lord, get him out of my way,” you’ll learn to beseech the Father for His blessings on people who seem better off than you. You will be surprised at what this kind of praying will do for the temperature of your own soul.
Small thought here. I pray that each of us, freshly aware of the dear Savior’s nearness, the faithful Holy Spirit’s enablement, and the firm grasp of the Father’s hand on our own, may learn more and more each day what a joy it is to walk wisely.
This devotional entitled The Ultimate Submission was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles at Walk With The King Today and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages. Used with written permission.
