One day we will be like Jesus (1 John 3:2). We all love the authority (Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:19) of being a child of God and ambassador but being like Christ also means humbly submitting to others. I first saw this articulated by Vince Miller in the 9 Attributes of a Man study.
Jesus submitted to his Father's will (John 6:38) and says if we are his friends we do what he commands us (John 15:14). An attitude of submission comes from a mindset that denies self, embraces missional suffering, and is subordinate in identity.
- submit ourselves to Him (1 Peter 5:6)
- to our supervisors and government (Romans 13:1-7)
- graciously submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21)
Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
Submission by Self Denial, Missional Suffering (Pick up Cross), Put Jesus ahead of me (Slave of Christ).
How can this be done, giving that we naturally don't submit to anyone? This is what the Bible calls dying to self and following Jesus. 3 Simple Ways to Submit to Authority Like Jesus gives this advice:
- Don't be prideful about position, Jesus was the Creator (John 1:3), the embodiment of "Us" (Genesis 1:26). Yet he never used suffering as justification for refusing to submit to authority (1 Peter 2:23).
- Don't claim credit for another vision or idea, Jesus came to do his Father's will (John 6:38).
- Know when and how to question and when to do what your told, "If it is possible" Matthew 26:36-46) - Jesus asks - doesn't tell God always in the posture "not my will, but yours"
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