“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21
Here is yet another verse underscoring that our relationship with Jesus makes every other relationship work.
If I love Jesus, I will love the “one anothers” in my life. Because I have been forgiven by Jesus, I must forgive the “one anothers” in my life. And because I want to honor and revere Jesus, I will submit to the “one anothers” in my life.
Jesus is the inspiration, the reason, and the joyful compulsion for pushing forward to release inexplicable love, forgiveness, respect, and honor.
And, most importantly, He is also the source of the ability to get it done.
There is no fuel in my human engine to love and keep on loving, to forgive and keep on forgiving, to submit and keep on submitting. The assignment is way too exhausting, painful, time-consuming, and humiliating.
I can’t do it. The “Laura” in me gives out, gives up, or (in many cases) never even gets started.
With some “one anothers” in my life, I just don’t want to. With others, I’ve genuinely tried and given up.
A horizontal view prompts a zillion reasons (…excuses?) why I cannot and should not submit. I can easily justify giving myself a pass. Perhaps I congratulate myself for even considering extending love, forgiveness, and honor to a particular person.
But then there’s the vertical perspective. I look up. Focusing my heart and mind on Jesus brings contrition. He loves me in spite of. He forgives me even if. He honors me no matter.
He knows everything – all the stuff I’ve thought, said, and done. Even the ugly. The dirty. The worst of the worst that I think I’ve buried deep, He knows … and He loves, forgives, and honors me anyway.
I am wholly undeserving, yet He gives anyway.
If I hold tenaciously to anger, resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness and refuse to release love, honor, forgiveness, and compassion – perhaps it says more about my relationship with Jesus than my fractured relationship with my “one another.”
- Do I trust He is big enough to protect me?
- Do I trust He will see and provide?
- Do I believe He is able to help me do what I could never do on my own?
- Do I believe Him?
- Is the object of my faith bigger than my what-ifs?
Clearly, I have some praying and pondering to do! How about you?
Our June bookmark features verses from Paul’s letter to the Roman Church. This powerful book covers the basics of the Christian faith, explaining the gospel of grace and making the case that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works.
In this week’s video introduction to our June Write the WORD topic, Laura highlights verses from “the Romans Road” – explaining the problem and consequences of sin, God’s solution for sin, the alternative (eternal life), and our response of faith to His free gift. We pray that this teaching prompts self-reflection in your life!
You can visit our Downloads page today for your copy of this month’s Romans Write the WORD bookmark and our other free resources for June.
