The Potential of Submission
When many people think of submission, they think of it negatively. They think of people who take advantage of others’ weakness and unwillingness to do anything about the abuse of authority. To them, submission means letting someone else control you against your will.
In reality, that’s a distorted view of the way submission is supposed to work. Submission is supposed to be a relationship in which each party has a healthy respect for the other. Although one person may have authority over the other, they would not do anything to harm the other individual.
We see people learning to live up to their full potential through submission almost every day around us. No model is perfect, but let’s examine the model of a teacher and a student. When the student submits to the teacher’s instruction and begins giving all their effort to their studies, the teacher can teach in a way that maximizes the student’s learning capacity.
The student would likely not learn near as much without the help of the teacher. Think of the teacher’s help as guidance that the student submits to. Without it, the student would not reach their full potential.
I’ve come to see parallels to this model in our walk with God. He, along with many other individuals in our lives – such as pastors, youth leaders, deacons, elders and parents – are our spiritual teachers. If we learn to submit to their instructions and grow under them, then we will be able to reach our full potential. We will grow up to be what God has promised us we would be, strong and thriving in Him, unhindered by things that would hinder us otherwise.
Submission done right is a positive experience. As was mentioned at the beginning of the article, many people don’t know how authority figures are really supposed to act. It takes seeing it in action to appreciate how submission can really be a good thing and the key to your potential.
Are there any positive experiences you’ve had with a mentor or teacher? Encourage someone else to follow God’s plan for submission – the right way – and reach their potential: share your story in the comments section!
Simple concept, tough fight. The flesh is a nasty adversary, but once brought under the control of God, a whole different world opens up and beautiful fruit can be seen on the tree.
My experience with submission is that it will protect you. As long as you’re submitted to the right “teachers”. Sometimes I get some crazy idea from reading a scripture the wrong way or just get way out there in prayer or something. I can then take it to one of the spiritual authorities in my life, and get some perspective or direction. Or confirmation, which gives me the faith to step out, or pursue whatever it might be.
I’m finally learning to embrace submission!
It’s a simple example, but I know that often when I get upset because a professor is obsessing about some detail of one of my papers, changing it usually does improve my paper.
I guess an important lesson here is that, while it feels empowering to be rebellious, you’re often shooting yourself in the foot. Sure, there are times when people in authority are misguided or flat-out wrong, but those instances are fewer than you’d think. Fewer than the professional rebels would tell you, anyway.
The devil and those angels who fell with him hate the idea of submission. He is called the lawless one for a reason. He fell like lightning when he attempted to lead a rebellion against God Almighty. Expelled from his place of worship before God and made an enemy of God and the remaining angels who submitted. He knows that if man, who was created a little lower than he was submits to God, then he can resist the devil and he will have to flee from man too! He knows he has lost the game but still tries to lead another rebellion in the human realm. Stay on the winning side, informed of his devices.
Excellent thought Joshua… As we align ourselves in submission to the authorities placed over us, we gain protection. The one thing that I’d like to add is that often times “submission” is viewed negatively because folks are looking at it from the point of view mentioned above… in other words, from the bottom up to the authority above you. However, I believe that what many people miss is that submission should also flow in the other direction; downward. I, as an authority figure to people (my children, Youth Group, Prayer & Care Group) must be both submitted and committed to the spiritual growth and welfare of those “below” me. In doing this, it allows the whole subject of “submission” to be less vulnerable. Just my thoughts. God Bless you!
Bright young man – insights like that will save you many hard lessons and give God room to do great things in your life.
I HATE SUBMISSION, well, that is what my flesh would say. I think I may have found a key to overcoming this.
1. Check self-when I am tempted to reason with direction and make excuses for why something should stay when I am told it should go, why something should go, when I am told it should stay, at that very moment I can submit or not.
Casting down every thought and imagination which exalts itself against the knowledge of christ, battles like these can only be won with weapons not formed by human hands
Submission is really the best kept secret I have found in my walk with the Lord. It is only through submission He can talk to me, change me, love me and be close to me. I know the more I do it, the easier it becomes…the more willing I become. If I am submitted to Him,I will have very little if any problem submitting to others since He is my utimate source of direction. There is no battle under submission….He shows the way and all you need to do is follow. Great topic!
ps can you fix the type on the word ultimate? thanx