Love & Obedience

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about what 'submission' truly means in a Christian context. It's a word that can sometimes bring up negative feelings or misunderstandings, right? Especially when you encounter passages like Romans 13. I remember the first time I really delved into Romans 13, it made me pause and reflect deeply on my role as a believer in society. Romans 13 talks about submitting to governing authorities, stating that 'there is no authority except that which God has established.' This isn't always easy, especially when we see things happening in the world around us that we might disagree with. But as I read and prayed, I started to understand that this submission isn't about blindly agreeing with everything. Instead, it's about recognizing that God, in His wisdom, has ordained systems of order for society. It's about respecting the office, even if we don't always agree with the person holding it. Paying taxes, obeying laws – these are concrete ways Romans 13 calls us to live peacefully and be a good testimony in the world. It’s a practical outflow of our faith. However, this idea of submission isn't just limited to civil government. My journey also led me back to the core message of keeping God's commands and having faith in Jesus, as highlighted in Revelation 14:12. This, to me, is the ultimate form of submission – submitting our will to God's perfect will, not out of fear, but out of profound love and trust. Just like Jesus told the rich man to keep the commandments, our obedience to God's word is an act of loving devotion. The 'connotation of submission' is often where people get stuck. Many think it implies weakness, giving up control, or being oppressed. But in the Bible, and particularly in the life of Christ, submission is portrayed as strength, humility, and a powerful act of faith. Jesus Himself submitted to the Father's will, even to the point of death on a cross. That's not weakness; that's ultimate strength and love. When we submit to God, we're not losing ourselves; we're aligning our lives with the One who knows us best and has our best interests at heart. I've learned that true biblical submission is an active choice, a posture of the heart. It's about trusting that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His plans are perfect. It's about loving God so much that we desire to obey His commands, not as a burden, but as a joy. This obedience flows from our faith in Jesus, who showed us the perfect example of a life lived in complete submission to God. So, when I think about 'love and obedience,' as the original post mentions, I see it as intrinsically linked to this deeper understanding of submission. It's about loving God enough to trust His authority, to live by His principles, and to submit our lives to His guidance. This isn't always easy, and it's a daily walk. But the peace and purpose it brings are truly invaluable. It's about letting our faith in Jesus guide every aspect of our lives, from how we interact with authorities (as in Romans 13) to how we cherish and follow God's eternal commands.