Good morning. Submission doesn’t seem to be a very difficult concept. We have two dogs, both weighing in at under 20 pounds. When I give them a command, I expect them to submit to my authority, and that means that they will obey me. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t, but for the most part, we get along.
In Ephesians 5:15 we are told to “be filled with the Spirit.” The passage continues in verses 19a telling that when we are “filled with the Spirit” we are to communicate with one another through spiritual songs, hymns, and Psalms. Then in verses 19b-20 we read Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a wonderful image of Christian unity, sharing our songs of praise to the Lord which also serves to build each other up. But the Lord doesn’t leave His instruction to us in that place. Verse 21 tells us: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wait a minute, what about my example of my two semi-submissive dogs? In order to use the word, submit, doesn’t that mean that someone is in charge and the other party is required to accept that authority? How can we obey the command: Submit to one another…?
But then again, the sentence isn’t quite finished yet, is it? No, the answer to submission is found in our reverence for Christ.
When we see that Jesus is always the One in charge, that it is His will that must be honored, then we see each other differently. That is true between husbands and wives, parents and children, or any other set of individuals we can think of. If you are demanding submission for anything that is outside of the will of Christ, you are wrong.
Yes, we are required to acknowledge civil authority. Yes, the teacher has authority over the student. Yes, the parent has authority in setting rules for the child. But in all things and at all times it is the will of the Lord that must be respected, honored, understood, and obeyed. His authority is our true authority and guiding light.