Real Submission
by Jan Cox
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about submission. I thought I had a good grasp of what God meant – not that I had perfected it – but I knew I was working toward that end (at least I thought I was!)
Last Sunday God opened my eyes wider to see submission in a deeper way. I watched Andy Stanley preach the second message of a sermon series on Love.
The sermon was based on Philippians 2:2-8. This passage showed me that I have not been loving my husband completely. This message was given to men and women with the focus on having respect for one another.
The one thing that jumped out and convicted me? My desire to be right – yes – that teacher correction mode. It had followed me through my marriage.
Here are two examples from Andy’s sermon “Being Staying in Love”
- When you are with a group of friends and your husband is telling a story, do you interrupt to correct the small details? Such as: “That was June 4th not 5th.” “No Sally wasn’t there.” “The car was red not maroon.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3 NIV).
- Are you totally interested in your spouse’s interests? WHAT? you say. I don’t like sports. So – Why does that matter? We need to be in love with what our partner loves.
“Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV).
Andy Stanley and these Bible verses showed me that I need to stretch further so my attitude will be “the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NIV).
This loving can be taken beyond our spouses but for today that is how I am reading this Scripture – just for my hubby.
And to further underline my need for this lesson today I read again about how love is the most important thing we can do here on earth. From The Amazing Collection our Bible study group is reading 1 John. And here are the Scriptures that affected me.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16 NIV).
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12 NIV).
And of course, once convicted I needed to do the following:
- Confess
- Ask for forgiveness
- Be cleansed
- Be restored to God (walk in the Light)
The result – I am His again.
Prayer:
I acknowledge my sin of self-focus. Please forgive me and wipe the slate clean. Help me to remember this lesson and focus on others (especially my husband) rather than myself. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Here is Andy Stanley’s sermon. It is excellent and if you can make the time to watch – do so! I watched part 2 at church – I think I will watch the others as well.
My Gratitude List for this week – Counting to 2000 – I am at 1117. I link to A Holy Experience on Mondays.
- fun game with daughter and son-in-law – I won!
- time to read and rest
- Wayne teaching Snowball obedience lessons
- seeing Wayne by using Facetime – MAC to IPAD – cool
- good walks with the dogs
- energy
- inspiration to write
- Tacos for dinner
- lost hydro power over night but it came back before house got too cold and sump pump needed
- lineup not too long for driver license renewal
- great sermon from Andy Stanley
- crisp cold day but saw the sun
- laugh, relax and have fun while we await the arrival of new baby
- -20 degrees Celsius this morning – You know you are alive in a Canadian winter!
- chair seat covers that remind me of the 70s
- Curry’s for art supplies
- while waiting for baby – shopping, cooking dinners, painting, watching The King’s Speech
- weather turning warmer
- beautiful sunny day in Ontario – highs of over 10 degrees Celsius
- granddaughter’s emails
- making a quilt for new baby (needed a project)
- a baby shower for my daughter
- 3 days overdue for grandbaby – waiting!
Jan Cox
Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan is working on a couple children’s books in which she is also the watercolour illustrator.
