There is a startling trend in
America today to consider freedom the ability to do or be whatever a person
wants without consequence or cost.
Let us look at freedom, what
it means, and how to attain a freedom that cannot be lost or taken.
Merriam-Webster’s online
dictionary describes freedom as:
1. the quality or state of being free: as
a. the absence of necessity, coercion or
constraint in choice or action
b.
liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another:
independence.
c.
the quality or state of being exempt or released from something onerous
So, to have freedom, we must
not be forced in choice or action, we must be independent and be free or
released from something onerous (a troublesome burden or difficult yoke).
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast
therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
Christ will free us from
eternal bondage. So how do we stand fast
in Christ?
I suggest that true freedom,
eternal freedom and peace can only be obtained through submission to
Christ. First, what is submission?
Merriam-Webster’s defines the
verb submit as:
1. a. to
yield oneself to the authority or will of another
b. to permit oneself to be subjected to
something
2. to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or
authority of another
So, how does submission, the
act of allowing someone else to decide for you, guide you and correct you,
create this freedom we all seek?
Psalm 146: 5-8
“5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for
his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Who made heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 7 Who executes justice for
the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. 8 The Lord opens the
eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down;”
When we are in submission to
the Lord, he executes justice and frees prisoners.
What are you a prisoner to?
Will you let him free you?
Ephesians 5:22-24
“22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to
the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is
head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore,
just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in everything.”
In our culture, often
submission is seen as only for the ignorant, foolish and weak. How does God view submission?
When we place this common
marriage scripture in context with the letter written to the church at Ephesus,
we better understand God’s view of submission.
Ephesians 5:15-21
“15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not
as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are
evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of
the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissipation;
but filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking to one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one to another in the
fear of God.
God does not see our actions
as the world does, but with a higher purpose and perfect knowledge. He views submission in the church and in our
marriages as not just wise, but walking in wisdom, and the world would too if
they understood what was on the line when we are called to submit.
But, how do we submit to an
imperfect husband, or imperfect spiritual leaders in our church?
Colossians 3:12-18
“12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put
on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through Him. 18 Wives, submit to your own
husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
So, it should be easy to
follow our husbands or spiritual leaders when they put on the character of the
new man described in Colossians, but they don’t always, they fail...
God hasn’t just called the
husbands, fathers and Elders to put on this new man, but all who are new in
Christ.
When our leaders falter, when we feel they are unfair or unworthy of our submission, remember that He has called us to put on the new man as well. As Paul instructs the church in Colosse, “Put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
He has called all of us,
young and old, male and female to put on the character of the new man. Give grace, give forgiveness, teach each
other, praise the Lord and give thanks for the opportunity to submit to God in
all things.
I have a wonderful marriage,
not perfect, but wonderful. I have a
husband who loves me, sacrifices for me and puts my needs first (Ephesians
5:25-33). If my earthly marriage as an
imperfect wife, to an imperfect husband can be so fulfilling and peaceful, how
much better Heaven will be with a perfect Christ as the bridegroom who covers
all my imperfections.
God is indeed wise.
The call for submission is
not just for wives. This is a call to
all whether young or old, single or married, male or female – Seek true and
eternal freedom through humble submission to Christ and the will of God.
Matthew 11:28
“28 Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon
you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Will you submit and find the
everlasting peace he has promised the church?
