In a couple of weeks millions of people will have had submitted their tax returns to the IRS.  In the past I have done my own and had other people do them.  This year I sent a big box of business stuff to my tax guy to prepare so I can submit my tax return.

We submit all the time! But when it comes to God, submission and to whom and for whom we are to submit it becomes a very dirty word.  After a challenging study in our Thursday night Life Connection Group for our church I decided to embark on a study of the word “submit” in the scripture.  Over the next several weeks I will be writing about this word and its relation to the life God has for us.

Let me start off by giving you some definitions of the word submit…

Websters 1913– 1. to let down; to lower 2. to put or place under 3. to yield, resign, or surrender to power, will or authority;   to yield one’s person to the power of another; to give up resistance; to surrender

New Websters– to yield to governance or authority b: to subject to a condition, treatment, or operation <the metal was submitted to analysis>2: to present or propose to another for review, consideration, or decision ; also : to deliver formally <submitted my resignation>3: to put forward as an opinion or contention <we submit that the charge is not proved>intransitive verb1 a: to yield oneself to the authority or will of another : surrender b: to permit oneself to be subjected to something <had to submit to surgery>2: to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another.

We don’t like to submit our power to anyone.  But to start off this study we should start with Christ’s submission. This idea fits perfectly since this week we celebrate the life given death of Christ.  Matthew 26:39 shows us Christ’s attitude of submission:

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Jesus was willing to give up what many would call his rights and will so that God could accomplish the task of bringing salvation to the world.  Submission here is a wonderful thing to think about.  Submission here brings us joy, peace, God’s forgiveness and eternity!

This brings me to something that we need to keep in mind when thinking about submission…When there is a God ordained institution or relationship submission is a wonderful and beautiful thing.

In the coming weeks I will look at some other “God ordained” institutions and relationships, like…

God and Creation

Jesus and the Church

Leaders and the Church

Christ and Parents

Parents and Children

Husbands and Wives

Older and Younger

God’s Law and People

May we come to see submission as a beautiful relationship that God intended.

This video was done by one of the guys from church.  I personally think he did an awesome job!  It was shown in our service a few weeks ago.

I decided to make some changes on my blog for two reasons.  I started my old blog on blogger under the title “frostburgpreacher” and since I am no longer a pastor in Frostburg that can be ended.  I also grew tired of blogger and have looked at wordpress and find it a little better.

I plan to blog more regularly than I have, but between a business, church (Pastor of Life Connections), kids and my beautiful wife I may not be contributing as regularly as I would like.

I plan on posting on submission in the next week or two.  It was something that was brought to my attention in our Life Connection group study of The Truth Project.  I have been really thinking, praying and studying a little on that word and what it means biblically.