Submission (John 14:30-31, John 5:30b)
I’m in the day 5 of 21 day devotional series called “The Battle: 21 Rules of Engagement” that our church has published. Today’s topic was on “Submission to God’s Mission”. It has been excellent.
Something today really rocked me during this devotional. The second paragraph of the devotional (which I will put parts in) really stirred up some thoughts that relate to so much I’ve learned and studied this past year.
One of the things I learned this year is about the 3 “parts” of a man (as in mankind). We’ll define them as:
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Spirit: That eternal part that distinguishes us from the rest of creation
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Soul: What we will define as the mind, will and emotions
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Body: The physical body (actions, habits, addictions)
When we accept Christ as Savior, only our spirit is saved. It is the only part of man that is eternal. Both other parts, the soul and body, are temporal and will die.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Did you see that? (Think the 3 parts of a man) God works IN us to WILL (soul) and to ACT (body) according to His good purpose.
The verses in part of today’s devotional were:
John 14:30-31 (NIV)
30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
John 5:30 (NIV)
30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
So check this out from today’s devotional:
“The devil had no hold on Jesus because nothing within Him was submitted to the devil. All of His thoughts, feelings, and decisions were submitted in obedience to God. Jesus didn’t have any self-serving attitudes that Satan could use to drag Him down and pull Him away from His purpose.” p.16; The Battle: 21 Rules of Engagement; Book and Audio CD; Copyright ©2007 by <a title=”‘Gateway Create Publishing; Written by Amy Cook.
Our soul controls our body – the actions, the cravings, the habits, the addictions, and the like. Our soul is where transformation begins. Transformation begins through submission.
Through total submission, we become transformed into the “image of Christ” (Colossians 3:9-10). Our actions and habits (body) begin to look like Christ. But it is the renewal of our mind (soul) that transforms us. Again, transformation comes from submission.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Self-serving attitudes lead us into physical sin, habitual sin, dis-honoring actions and lifestyles that not of God.
Take Away:
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If we struggle with some habitual sin (i.e. swearing), that habit will be changed as we renew our mind, will, and/or emotions (soul). Too often we focus all of our energy and attention on the physical sin and not on the underlying attitude or heart issue associated with it.
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Ask Father to reveal that issue of the soul (mind, will, emotion) that has not been submitted to His purpose and focus there.
Running After Papa…
This is great info to know.