Tag: submission
Week 27–Day 1–Pray Like This!
Scripture reading for June 29: Matthew 6:9-15 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
As we close out this twenty-six week devotional for first responders, I want to encourage each of my brothers and sisters to develop a prayer connection with God the Father using the pattern taught by Jesus Christ to help connect with God effectively. This prayer has often been neglected or mis-used. Some memorize it and say it repetitively with little thought. For others, myself included, it is a wonderful help in keeping my focus on God’s holiness and grace and humbly presenting my personal needs. It was taught by Jesus as a pattern for corporate prayer among believers.
This prayer begins with relationship and our identity in Christ as God’s children. “Our Father” is recognition that all of us are created in God’s image and He is truly our Father in heaven. Our Father is Holy: complete and whole in Himself. He is the King of the heavenly kingdom and His will is to be our desire and focus on earth as it is in heaven. He is honored when we ask Him for physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We find forgiveness of sin is one of our deepest needs and we are to ask Him for forgiveness. Reinforcing this is the admonition that if we refuse to forgive others, God will not forgive us. Ending this short pattern is the humble request to deliver us from evil or the evil one. By faith, we pray, believing that God hears us and answers His children.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, holy is Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever! Amen.
Living as Servants of God
Scripture reading for November 10: 1 Peter 2
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants be subject to you masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” 1 Peter 2:13-19
Peter was writing to a suffering church that was enduring persecution to help them function in a wicked culture. Following the resurrection, he was shown by Jesus how he would suffer and how he would die. (John 21:18-19) Peter emphasized that we should not suffer as a result of our own rebellion to the government or disrespect for human authorities. Here he emphasized voluntary submission, even to a wicked Gentile emperor. Governors who served under the emperor were also to be honored and respected in that they served to punish the evil-doers and encourage the upright. (Romans 13:1-5) All authority is established by God and answers to Him.
Believers have been set free from sin and it’s penalty, but should not use their new-found freedom as a license to continue in sin. They are servants of God and should reflect their Master to those in the world. Each person should be treated with honor as made in God’s image. Love should mark our every action and attitude, reflecting God the Father, who is Love! We should always honor God in all we do as well as the emperor and governors appointed by Him. If we serve as a slave, employee, or volunteer, we should serve with a respectful attitude to all, whether they treat us respectfully or with contempt and injustice. Because we have received God’s amazing grace, we are to be gracious even as we may suffer unjustly.
How do you receive the instruction offered here by Peter on respect and submission to authority, good or unjust? What does it mean to submit to authorities and why are we to do this even to the harsh ones? Why are believers to be gracious in suffering unjustly?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for all authority that You place in this world and in my life. Help me to cheerfully submit to authority and honor them properly by respect and obedience. By the Holy Spirit, let Your grace flow in my life towards those who are evil and unjust. May your mercy lead them to repent. Amen.
Godly men and women!
Scripture reading for September 25: 1 Timothy 2
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with raided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.” 1 Timothy 2:8-11
Paul began his letter to Timothy by encouraging him to lead the church he pastored in prayer. Prayer for all people, especially those in authority, helps all focus on living peaceful and godly lives. God desires His people to live in peace and to conduct their lives in such a way that the culture and spiritual atmosphere is such that children can be raised to know God and serve Him and that the church can advance the Gospel by reaching those that are lost. Believers are the salt and light God provides to bring out a fresh revelation of God’s goodness and mercy.
Men were to assume their place as leaders of their homes and church families and to set a godly example of lifting holy hands in prayer. They were to avoid anger, quarreling, and dissention. These things hinder prayer and disrupt the peace. Women should be careful how they dress and act. In a pagan culture, sexual immorality and lewdness were acceptable to promote selfish desires, but in God’s kingdom women were called to godliness and modesty. The dressing of the body for sensual attraction and pleasure was not proper in that God called them to a higher standard of behavior. These women should do good works and conduct themselves with modesty while raising godly children and living in submission to their godly husband’s leadership. These instructions were sorely needed in the culture of that time, but are very relevant for our time as well!
When you read this passage, are you somewhat embarrassed or ashamed to discuss it because of our permissive culture? What do you think about the roles of men and women in our time? Are there any changes that should be made in your own attitudes and actions towards roles of men and women?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for designing men and women uniquely and wonderfully. Thank You for the roles and dignity that are assigned to each gender. Help me as a man to lift up holy hands in prayer and lead my family in praying for those in authority. Help me to honor women and their role of dignity and support. Amen.
Reverent submission and obedience!
Scripture reading for October 18th: Hebrews 5, Psalm 59, Proverbs 24
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 5:7-9 “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Jesus was the Son of God, but came to earth in a human body, subject to all its weakness and limitations. Jesus relied upon prayer and reverent submission to His Father in heaven and obeyed Him perfectly. He learned obedience through suffering because of it. Because of His willing and perfect obedience, He could become the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him!
Faith Confession: I believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and my Savior and freely choose to obey His Word. He is the source of my salvation from the consequences of sin and my power to live a life free from sin by obeying Jesus. I bow in reverence to Jesus Christ, my Savior!
Psalm 59:9-10 “O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my Fortress. My God in His steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.”
The importance of reverent submission!
Scripture reading for October 19th: Hebrews 5
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 5:7-10 “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection stand as a beacon light for those who by faith chose to follow Him. Jesus was a man of prayer–not just superficial prayer, but intense focused prayer. He prayed to know and submit to the Father’s will and purposes, even suffering. He was God’s Son, but was asked by His Father to suffer death on behalf of sinful mankind. His reverent submission to His Father’s will is instructive for all who follow Him. He is the source of eternal salvation to all who reverently submit to Him and obey His word!
Observations for over-comers: Through Christ, we who believe have become sons of God, adopted into His family. We also learn obedience and reverent submission to His will, even if it means suffering! “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees.” (Psalm 119:71)