Submission

“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Submission

Years ago, I had an awful supervisor. It seemed as if she made it her mission to torment me as often as possible. She herself was one prone to many mistakes, for she often forgot things that she was entrusted to accomplish. Sometimes her mistakes or forgetfulness would involve paperwork that I had submitted to her, in which she then misplaced. It was an awful seven years.

During that ordeal, I maintained respect for her, for I understood that I was not working for her, but for my Savior, who had placed her in authority over me. As I read I Peter chapter two this morning, my mind immediately went to that time.

In the coming days, weeks, months and perhaps years, many of us will find ourselves enduring great pressure from those who hate us, and some of them will be in authority over us.

In my case, my supervisor seemed to have some difficulty with my faith, for it made her uncomfortable. I will not say it was the source of her treatment of me, for her need to cover her incompetence was reason enough, but it did provide one more reason.

Listening to a bible teacher I like, I heard reference to the three lives of the Christian today. We all have the practical life, the one where we must go to work, going about the everyday activities, and interacting with the world in which we live. Then there is the Spiritual life, the one where we interact with God, where we interact with other believers, and our outlook to the eternal things, including the Kingdom to come.

Finally there is the life in near future, which in these perilous times, includes making provision for all the endless possibilities that we may face, as the times we are living are uncertain.

This may include laying back extra food etc, or prepping, it may include shoring up ones spiritual life, to be able to endure the pressures brought by the devil. It also includes going out and fulfilling the mission the Lord has given us.

That future life might also include suffering.

There maybe suffering, one might even say there will be, but we have an example, Jesus, who entered this sinful world, suffered long, and endured, going to the cross to become sin for us, offering forgiveness.

He did speak a word, nor threaten, though He could have spoken the world out of existence. He pressed on, completing His mission.

Like Him, we will be required to go and face the wrath of man, for we know that our future is in heaven. We also have the confidence in knowing that that regardless of what we may face, nothing can separate us from the love of God.

“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:34-39 NKJV

In the coming times of great struggle, and yes, they are coming, may we be people who cry out to the Lord, not out of fear, but for boldness.

My Brothers and sisters, we are living in the last days, and we will need the boldness of those who have come before us in the first days. There will be threats, there will be violence, but we have an intercessor in Jesus who even now is comforting the accuser of the brethren, the devil, before the throne of God.

Our forerunners, when confronted by the religious authorities of the day, called upon the Lord. In their case, every aspect of their lives was in the balance, as their livelihoods were upended, their spiritual lives were impacted, and their futures were uncertain. Yet, they prayed, not for relief, but for boldness.

““For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:27-31 NKJV

I pray that every church, and every follower of Jesus cry out, and each be shaken, as if gently rocked by our loving God, reminding us that the Lord is near.

Hold on my people, undergo the submission to your masters in this age, knowing that one day soon, the Lord will return and He will establish His kingdom where every knee will bow and every tongue confess. Do so without grumbling, as if working for the Lord.

Let us long for that day when we will see His face.

Though the dark is overwhelming
And the brightest lights grow dim
Though the Word of God
Is trampled on by foolish men
Though the wicked never stumble
And abound in every place
We will all be humbled when we see Your face

And the demons we’ve been fighting
Those without and those within
Will be underneath our feet
To never rise again
All our sins will be behind us
Through the blood of Christ erased
And we’ll taste Your kindness when we see Your face

We will see, we will know
Like we’ve never known before
We’ll be found, we’ll be home
We’ll be Yours forevermore

Songwriters: Bob Kauflin / Jordan Kauflin
When We See Your Face lyrics © Sovereign Grace Praise

Have a Fabulous Friday!

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https://www.allaboutgod.com/the-roman-road.htm