Tag: Submit

Christ is Our Righteousness

How do we know that we have done something wrong? We compare our actions to the law or the rules. The same goes for our sin. We know that we have sinned when we compare our actions to the Law of the LORD written on our hearts.

“1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” – Romans 10:1 (ESV)

I recently saw a debate where one of the debaters asked a group of onlookers if they wanted everyone to go to heaven and there was 100% respondents of yes. Now, this was not exactly the subject of the debate, but the question was a valid one. You see, people are inherently good and want the best for others. Paul echos this in verse one above. He wants, no desires’ that everyone is saved.

“3For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” – Romans 10:3 (ESV)

Even as Paul and others want the best for us, there is truth in that people still follow their own desires and law as oppose to the Law of the LORD. There is a continued seeking of our own rules and laws to get us through. We want heaven, but we insist on getting there our own way and do not submit to the Law of the LORD which is written on our hearts.

“4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4 (ESV)

Jesus is the where we find the path to righteousness and heaven. We know the Law of the LORD, we are just not submitting to it. We are aware of the path to heaven, we simply choose to take another path. We choose to do things our way, avoiding The Way because, “we know better”.

“6Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus told us that the way to righteousness is through Him, and that is the only way. We cannot get there on our own. We cannot reach heaven doing things our way. We cannot submit to Christ without finding Him. Christ is for our righteousness and the path to heaven, we only need to trust in and submit to Him.

What does your path look like? Are you intent on going your own way as you know better? What if you were to submit to and trust in Jesus as He is our path to righteousness?

We Submit to God’s Will

It is hard. Submitting to God’s will that is. There are times when it is very difficult to see His will as it is obscured by the circumstances of the moment. Let’s take Hagar for instance.

“6But Abram said to Sarai, ‘Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.’ Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.” – Genesis 16:6 (ESV)

Hagar was a servant of Sarai and at the direction of Sarai, became the wife of Abram. They conceived a child and Sarai was none to happy, even though that was the plan in the first place. Hagar was in a difficult position and as such decided to flee the scene as she was unable to see just what the blessing and will of God was to be. Hagar had submitted to authority of her master and was put in a position that she was not necessarily prepared to handle.

That is when Hagar met up with the angel of the LORD and her eyes were opened to His will. The angel of the LORD let her know that where the times were going to be difficult, big plans for her and her child were to come. Hagar was to return to Sarai and Abram, give birth to the child and watch as he would be the beginning of a great number of descendants.

“9The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress and submit to her.’ 10The angel of the Lord also said to her, ‘I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.’” – Genesis 16:9-10 (ESV)

The situation had gotten in the way of Hagar seeing the will of the LORD. She submitted to the will of her master, but had not found the way to submit to her ultimate master, the LORD. Once she found herself alone with her thoughts, the angel of the LORD came to her and she was able to see the will of the LORD and found it to be wonderful, even if it would take time to play out.

I have to remember that I must submit to the LORD. He is my Father and master and His will is to be done. For me to be opened to His will, I have to be alone with my thought and allow the angel of the LORD to come to me and open my eyes to the LORD’s will. And then I will submit to His will to carry it out regardless of the time it takes.

What is you view on the LORD’s will? Are you willing to submit to His will, or are you even able to identify it? What if you were to find some alone time and allow the angel of the LORD to come to you and open your eyes to His will and then you submit to it more than you have submitted to your masters in this world?