Be A Good HOST – Submission

There are words that don’t have an appeal in the modern world. One of those words is submission.

Plenty of reasons why that is the case and some of them are rooted in the misuse and active abuse of the term to refer to oppressive and derogatory relationships. In an era where self-realisation and equality are powerful values, the concept of actually submitting to another seems at best a lovely old concept for another time. At worst it’s ignored in favour of any of those parts of life that promote self and focuses on getting the best for the self.

It’s in this setting that the words about Jesus have a particularly poignant quality,

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, 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. (Hebrews 5:7-10 NIV)

The priesthood of Christ is something believers can never afford to take for granted. That priesthood is based on His life on earth. That life on earth is marked by His obedience and by His submission. I’ve seen the relationship two as obedient actions in this relational context coming from a submissive attitude. Actions based on attitude. Something is done because of how you view the way the relationship works.

This neatly brings the hat-trick of humility, obedience and submission together. They are not the exciting and appealing words for the self-centred culture. They are the heart of what makes Jesus the Son, the Great High Priest and the Lord. It’s also what influences those who want their lives to reflect His.

That submissive attitude is the natural flow from being humble. It is a recognition of total dependency (humility) and the ongoing posture to put ourselves underneath the other and serve (submission). Submitting to God requires a recognition of His greatness and the total dependency on Him for everything. That then leads to obeying Him even as He instructs and directs us to His Son who exhibits that submissive and humble lifestyle and instructs us to follow Him in the lifestyle with each other.

What is being instructed is the order being clear of God first and everything flowing from that. All the reasoning for everything else comes from the first place of submission.

Despite the lack of appeal it has in the culture of the day, the overriding value and benefit of such an attitude is to continue to remain connected to the source of what makes life meaningful. It’s keeping plugged into the source of what defines everything good because He is good.

In this light, the submissive attitude isn’t one to be seen as pathetic or self-degrading. It’s to be celebrated as a return to something of infinite worth and eternal benefit. The humble, obedient and submissive attitudes that give the ground for being a good HOST also involves one other crucial element that makes the calling flourish.

Questions to consider in being a Good HOST – 3 Submission

How would you describe the submissive attitude?

Where have you seen that lived out?

How can Jesus influence your attitude today when it comes to being submissive?

What are the key challenges that affect being submissive?

(Photo by Anunay Mahajan on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden