6. Our Response to Authority
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We have already covered a good deal of material about submission to authority. Now the question is, What does this look like in our daily lives?
Practically, how do we live this out?
There are four major areas of delegated authority that God has established for us: government, church, home and work. As we examine these specifics, we will have a clear picture of everyday submission.
His Governing Authorities
In the beginning, there was no human government. Adam and Eve alone were given dominion over the earth and all its creatures. God created a perfect world, and prior to the fall, their dominion did not include dealing with the rebellion that Satan would initiate.
But when sin was introduced, everything changed.1 Self-centeredness, jealousy, hatred and a myriad of other vices became part of the picture. Society could not function any longer without law and order. So God delegated the power of governing fellow men, which is known as the Dispensation of Human Government.2 Then when God called the Israelites out from Egypt, He gave them commandments and ordinances so they would know how to function as a society.3
First Peter 2:13-14 says, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.”
Unfortunately, even among believers, the laws set by our government are sometimes taken lightly. If it seems to us like an inconsequential matter, such as going over the speed limit, it is almost as if obedience becomes optional to us. But God does not view things this way. We are to obey local authorities, even as we should the authority of the nation.
As another example, we should not look for ways to get out of paying taxes. Romans 13:6-7 ( NIV) says, “This [their service] is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” We pay taxes because government authorities are in a sense God’s workers for society.
God tells us in Exodus 22:28, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” Not only has God made it clear that we are to obey rulers and the laws they make, but we should not speak against them.
Dr. Billy Graham is a wonderful example of how we should respond to our government leaders. I have watched him more than four decades now. Presidents have come and gone. But as in the case of Daniel, when the kings came and went, he still prospered under each of them.
No matter whether the president was a Democrat or Republican, Dr. Graham always manifested respect for their authority as a great leader in our world. He prayed for them and sought to be a blessing in whatsoever way he could. He could have chosen to criticize some of these authorities when they made mistakes, but he never spoke out against them. He always just made it known that he prayed for them. He is an example for all of us to follow.
His Authority in the workplace
One of the important things to remember when working for our employers is realizing that we are not just serving them, but the Lord. And we don’t want to serve Him slothfully, but diligently.
We are under the authority of those we serve. It is our responsibility to obey them and to do as they say, unless they are asking us to sin and dishonor God. Paul says in Ephesians, “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-6).
God wants us to work as diligently when no one is watching as we would if the boss were there, looking over our shoulder. Not
only that, He doesn’t want us to work hard just to win favor and have the employer on “our side.” Rather, we are to work with a sincere heart out of respect to the Lord, whether or not our employer is pleased with our hard work.
Peter says, “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” (1 Peter 2:18-19).
It would be easier for us if this verse weren’t in the Bible. Whether or not what we do is noticed and appreciated, whether there is kindness or anger from our authority in the workplace, it no longer makes a difference. We do not serve this person for an earthly reward, but for our Lord’s sake.
One of the strange things among Christians is the double standard between the secular and religious world. For example, if a person works in the world, they are expected to be on time or they will lose their job. But when in a ministry, sometimes the attitude is that there is “grace” and the sense that they should not be expected to hold to such a standard. I have even heard some say they felt it was more important to come in late but to have spent time with the Lord first. No doubt beginning the day with the Lord is important, yet I can’t help but wonder if when serving in the secular world these same individuals wouldn’t have found a way to do both. Paul says:
All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved (1 Timothy 6:1-2, nasb).
Let us please them well in all things, and we will receive a reward from the Lord.
God Gave us Shepherds
During the 1970s for four-and-a-half years, I pastored a church in the United States. Then in 1979, as the Lord directed my wife and me, I resigned from that pastorate to do missions work fulltime.
I will always remember that last Sunday. I loved my people, and I was sad to go. I recall even today the last sermon I preached to my congregation. It was titled “Seven Things You Must Remember as I Leave You.” One of the points I shared was that whoever was to follow me as the shepherd of the church—they should obey him and not hurt him, even if he was a most unqualified person. After the sermon, many were crying as we said goodbye.
The time came to leave the church that day. Gisela and I, with our little son Danny, went out of the sanctuary. I distinctly remember walking down the stairs of the church entrance. Down step one, step two, step three. At the last step, just before I placed my foot on the road, I suddenly felt like someone was pulling off my jacket! I turned around. But no one was there. My face went pale. My wife asked me, “You look strange. What’s happened?” I didn’t know how to answer her.
As we were driving away, this revelation came to me: “I placed you here as the shepherd. Now the mantle I put on you has been removed. Someone else will take your place.”
I was struck with the sacredness of shepherding God’s people, and that impression from the Lord has never left me. In fact, in the early days I could not tell this story without choking up.
Now whenever I see a pastor, it doesn’t matter how big his church is, his age or what his qualifications are; I recognize I’m dealing with someone who is placed in an important position by the living God to represent Him and shepherd His people. I must honor and respect him and the responsibility God has given him.4 The New Testament makes it clear that Christ is the head of the Church5 and that He has appointed shepherds to feed and look after the sheep.6 Sheep don’t lead themselves; the shepherd leads them.
We should have the utmost respect for pastors and the responsibility God has entrusted to them. Paul says to the church in Thessalonica, “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, NIV).
When our pastors speak into our lives, their words should not be taken lightly. If we listen to them and heed their warnings, our lives will be blessed. Obey them and be submissive. Don’t fall prey to the attitude of the modern church, which has lost the fear of God and His shepherds.
In the book of Acts is a record of a church council meeting. Paul and Peter and others presented their reports and views. Finally James, their spiritual authority, stood up and gave his ruling, and all obeyed and submitted to his decision.7 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).
heaven in the home
A home should be a reflection of heaven in its unity, love and peace. Why is heaven such a happy place? Because all beings, even the most powerful archangels, only do what the Father tells them. There is no independent spirit there. All are subject to God’s authority.
Just as God designed an order of hierarchy for heaven, He also designed one for marriage and family life. The husband is the head, the wife should submit to her husband and children are to obey their parents.
Just look around—it is not hard to see the confusion and breakup of many homes due to rebellion and lack of submissiveness. If men and women follow God’s instructions in the home, however, they will have His blessings and experience a taste of heaven here on earth.
Wives, Submit to Your Husbands
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we read, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” In our bodies, the head gives direction to the rest of the body. So when the Bible says man is the head of the woman, it means he is the one setting the direction for the family.
From this verse, we know the order of hierarchy is God, Christ, man then woman. God the Father and Jesus Christ are equally divine, yet there is a difference in their roles. One submits to the other. In the same way, man and woman are spiritually equal, but their roles are different. By God’s design, one is to lead and the other to follow. So although the wife is not inferior, it is her role to submit to her husband’s direction.
Ephesians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Some husbands use this Scripture to force their wives into submission. This is not God’s way.
It is the right thing for the wife to submit willingly to her husband. But she does this knowing that she is obeying the living God, for it is God who has asked the wife to submit to her husband.
The principle of headship is something God established from the beginning. It says in 1 Corinthians 11:7, “Woman is the glory of man.” Woman was created to manifest man’s authority, just as man was made to manifest God’s authority. Eve was made for Adam’s sake, to be his helper.8Obviously the helper follows the one being helped. Before the fall, it was natural for Adam to lead and Eve to follow.
Just as woman’s submission is directly linked to creation, it is also tied to the fall. First Timothy 2:14 ( NIV) reads, “And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” She acted independently, and she was deceived. The fall involved a violation of God-ordained roles for the husband and wife.
Why is the subject of a wife’s submission to her husband such a touchy subject? It is due to the curse that came upon mankind through this rebellion and fall. In Genesis 3:16 ( NIV) we read the consequence of Eve’s sin: “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” The word desire comes from the Hebrew word teshuwqah. In this case, it does not mean “sexual desire,” but rather “deep longing for power and control, to be in authority.”
The curse is not that her husband rules over her, for in the beginning Eve was created to be under Adam’s authority. It is her desire to be in control of her husband that is the curse. It should be no surprise, wives, that you find submission to your husbands difficult, for this was passed down to you from Eve, just as pain in childbirth was. This inherited desire, however, does not have to determine the choices you make.
God knows what He is doing, and His ways are always best. As we have discussed earlier, submission is an attitude of the heart. It is not simply obedience. It goes beyond that to a desire to understand your authorities and to show them respect and honor.
It is an obvious overstatement, but still it bears saying—men and women are different. Men feel valued and appreciated when they are respected and their counsel and advice are taken, whereas women feel valued and appreciated when they sense they are loved and are treated with compassion. What if you were to question a man at the workplace, “Do you want people here to respect you or to love you?” He would screw up his face and say, “What do you mean? I am not looking for people here to love me. I want to be respected. I want my dignity.”
Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Women, love your husbands.” It says, “Respect your husband. Submit to him.”9 You don’t say to a bird, “Fly.” It is natural for a bird to fly without having to tell it to do so. The same is true for the wife; it is natural for her to love her husband.
But it is very hard for her to show him respect. A man who knows that his wife loves him may still wonder whether she respects him or trusts his decisions. Look at Ephesians 5:33: “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (emphasis mine).
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, marriage counselor and speaker, writes, “For so many couples, respect is, indeed, the missing piece of the puzzle.”10 He has received many letters from women writing that everything changed once they took deliberate steps to submit and show respect to their husbands.11
Even when a husband is an unbeliever, a wife can win her husband to the Lord through her submission and respect. “You wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior” (1 Peter 3:1-2, nasb, emphasis mine). Obviously, there can be excruciating circumstances in which the situation for the wife is unbearable, and the husband does not respond. Peter did say may. More often than not, however, just by being respectful the husband is drawn to the Lord.
What does it look like to respect your husband? Each culture has its own ways of communicating respect. But around the globe, to correct your husband, especially in front of others, is disrespectful to him. Listening to and taking seriously his counsel shows respect. When others are present, not giving your husband any room in the conversation and being the one to answer every question that gets asked is disrespectful. As you seek the Lord, I am confident that He will show you additional ways you can show respect to your husband.
A woman who wants to follow the Lord and please Him will choose to bring her heart under submission to her husband. Scripture says, “[It] is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18). There is great power behind a wife who chooses to submit to her husband.
Children, Obey Your Parents
The instruction from the Lord for children is that they obey their parents. In Ephesians 6:1 we read, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” The word used here in the Greek language is hupakouo. The way this word is used is not toward an equal, but regarding one who is inferior and needs to obey, for it is the right thing to do.
Children, however, still defy and revile their parents, whether with their words or their hearts, charging, “What do you know? You’re old! I know what’s right for me.” How many sons and daughters are wandering the streets, abused, raped and influenced by evil friends, because they would not submit to their parents?
It is reasonable to think that a 40-year-old has more experience, wisdom and understanding than someone who is 6, 8, 10 or 18. Unfortunately, children are born with a rebellious nature handed down to them from Adam. And parents are meant to be the covering and protection for them.
Now there’s something interesting we find in the Gospels. Read these statements from Jesus: “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”12 and “Woman, what have I to do with thee?”13 Jesus lived in subjection to His earthly parents until He left their home for the ministry on which His Father had sent Him. But after He left, He would not do anything until His Father in heaven showed Him that He should go forward.
The same is true in our lives. We must live under submission to our parents as long as we are their dependents. But once we live on our own, it is different. When the Lord has asked you to go forward and your parents disagree, you must obey your Father in heaven, even as Jesus did. But it is wise to take their counsel when it does not oppose what God has clearly asked us to do.
When I wanted to get married, I wrote a long letter to my parents. I remember so well the last paragraph, “Having said all this, Father, I want you to know that I will never go through with this until I hear from you, and you give me your blessing.” I still have the letter my father wrote back, granting his permission. Only then did I proceed.
When I was in Germany meeting my future father- and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Reichart, I told them, “Please know we will not go ahead with our marriage plans until you have given us your blessing.” Gisela and I had to wait several months before they chose to do that. As I look back over the years, I have no doubt we have been blessed because we waited for permission and blessing from our parents.
“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20, nasb). “ ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’ ” (Ephesians 6:2-3).
The reflections of Submission
God is not satisfied with just an outward appearance of obedience. He knows that rebellion begins on the inside and is often concealed. There is both passive and active rebellion. Absalom, in the beginning, was passively rebelling. Quietly he was going along, but on the inside, he was already a full-fledged rebel.14When someone is passively rebellious, he smiles at you and acts like everything is wonderful, but inwardly he is not submitting. There the rebellion grows until finally it is exposed.
But God is pleased when our hearts are submitted, and we deliberately choose to place ourselves under the covering He has provided. When we pick that path, it is no longer just external, and we sincerely seek to follow our authorities and respect them. Once we go beyond just copying the proper behavior, positive changes take place that we may not even realize. These are a natural overflow of a heart that is submitted. They are reflections of our yielding to authority.
It is like approaching a mango tree and starting to examine it. “Well, this looks like a mango tree,” you say. “All the leaves are correct, but where are the mangoes?” Once you see a mango on the tree, however, you know for sure it’s not an apple tree. It is definitely a mango tree. Similarly, when you say, “I submit to authority,” there is certain fruit that can be seen in your life— reflections of submission. So, what are some of these reflections of godly submission?
Our Body Language
The way we present ourselves before our authority speaks volumes about our attitude toward individuals in positions over us.
There are times when the Lord gives us a picture of one of His principles, and it sticks in our minds as if we took a snapshot of that moment. One of the occasions when the Lord did this for me was when I was a little boy. One morning my mother came to me and said, “Today you are going to kindergarten.”
She took me to where my father was sitting in his chair and said, “Touch your father’s feet and receive his blessing.” I still remember bowing down, touching my father’s feet and him putting his hand on my head, saying, “May God bless you, son.” That was all he said, but I’ll never forget it. It’s almost like it took place yesterday. Then we went to the school, and my mother said to me, “Touch your guru’s (teacher’s) feet and get his blessings.” So I did.
Years went by. I finished my schooling and went to North India, then to America and Europe, received my college education and became well established. One day I was back in my little village, Niranam, to visit relatives. As I was walking near the house where I grew up, I came up to an old familiar bridge, and would you believe, here on the bridge comes my first teacher!
He must have been around 80 years old, and he was wearing a dhoti15 and no shirt. I didn’t think he would remember me because I looked different. We came face-to-face on the bridge, and I said, “Sir.” He responded, “Little one.” Then came one of the fondest memories of my life: I bent down and touched the feet of this old man. Here he was standing before me, a skinny, wrinkled old man—my teacher. And I remember him saying the same words to me once again, “May God bless you.” I will never forget that encounter.
When we see God’s delegated authority as He does, the carelessness in our stance, in the way we sit and in the way we look at the person all begins to change. We realize we are not just responding to anyone, but to the one God appointed over us to represent Him. Our respect carries over into our very posture and conduct.
—Q> Our Words
The Bible instructs us to give honor to those to whom honor is due. When we use titles of respect, like “Sir,” “Pastor,” “Mr.,” “Mrs.” and “Dr.,” it reflects our respect for authority.16
More than the titles we use, our attitude toward authority is communicated through our use of words. Sometimes people refer to their father as “my old man.” How sad. When speaking to people who are above you or to elders, always address them with respect. Avoid referring to your superiors as “you guys” or “you people.”
Beyond the actual words, our tone of voice, our intonation and the way we ask questions all indicate whether we respect authority. When our hearts are submitted, there’s no striving to reach the answer we’re looking for. There isn’t arguing; instead, there is a deep desire to learn, to understand and to implement completely what is being discussed. All these characteristics are expressed in our words.
Focused Listening
In the same way, you should listen with an attitude of desiring to understand and follow. It’s hearing with not only your ears, but also your eyes. They aren’t distant eyes that are interested in something else or eyes that are saying, “I already know what you’re going to say. You don’t have to tell me.”
When the prime minister of India, England or Canada or the president of the United States stands before a group of people, do you think anyone is sleeping? No way!
Even beyond hearing what your authority is saying, it is sensing the wishes of this leader, which often means going beyond their actual words and requests. It’s being sensitive to them and the situation, not for the sake of your own needs or benefits, but for theirs.
Whether it is our father, mother, husband, pastor, employer, judge or whomever—you should not listen carelessly or flippantly. Listening attentively is a sign of respect.
Our Appearance
People are careful about how they look when they are involved in some way with a government official! No one with any sense would go before a trial judge in their pajamas. In the same way, your attire should also reflect your respect for all those in authority over you. I cannot enumerate what your situation will always call for. But please be sober about this matter and ask the Lord to show you what this means in your setting.
A Spirit of Humility
When we seek to honor our authority, we are not wanting to promote ourselves but instead are looking for ways to be a blessing and help. We assume the role of a servant, not acting like we are the one in charge. We look for opportunities to carry their bag or give a glass of water. We give them our chair. Being helpful is always a sign of respect.
No one is perfect, and there may be times the Lord asks us to shed light on a blind spot our authority may have. But when we are submitted, we will do this with a spirit of humility, never with arrogance and a pointing finger. Rather, we’ll say, “Look, here is the situation. I may be wrong. Please help me understand if I am mistaken.” The intention is not to put down the authority or to make this person look foolish, but rather to help.
A Transparent Life
When we truly seek to follow our authority, we won’t be trying to hide anything. To cover something up implies that we believe we wouldn’t have proper approval if our authority knew. If that’s the case, then we are not submitting in our hearts. It may not be outright disobedience, but we have certainly not submitted to the overall guidance given. The saying “it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission” is not God’s way.
If we are truly sincere and upright, we will be open and honest with our parents, pastors and leaders. I tell my leaders, “For kindness’ sake, I plead with you. Don’t hide things from me. Even if you make huge mistakes, I am not angry. But please don’t taunt me with half-stories, carefully playing with your words to position yourself in some way. Don’t do it.”
That kind of behavior demonstrates insubordination, disloyalty and craftiness.
A Desire for Guidance
When we live in submission, we sincerely desire to learn from those God set over us. We watch; we listen; we ask questions. We are even willing to disclose our problems and confide, “Look, this is what I am thinking. I may be completely off the wall. Could you help me or talk to me about it?”
Sometimes we may find ourselves in circumstances in which we don’t have an authority figure over us in some realm of our life. It could be because we are in a high level of leadership, or we don’t have parents who know the Lord or our father died. In those cases, as one with a submissive heart, we will seek out a mentor, someone who can be an authority over us.
Respectful to Elders
When we have a submitted heart, we respect our elders. These include older brothers and sisters, teachers and our older people. Whether or not they know the Lord, they have journeyed longer than we. Unfortunately, the influence of modern media such as television and movies has fostered disrespect, and the honoring of elders has become a rare gem.
When someone in authority, such as a teacher, walks into a room, everybody stands up and keeps standing until their elder says, “Please be seated.” This time-honored custom actually comes from the Bible. “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32, NIV). First Peter 5:5 ( NIV) says, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.”
In some cultures, especially throughout Asia, for a younger person or subordinate to sit on the official chair of an elder or leader is seen as disrespectful. When I was growing up, we children were not to sit on our father’s chair. My mother would tell us, “That is your father’s chair. Don’t sit on it.”
When visitors or relatives came to our home, no one would sit there. Even when he was not at home, his chair remained vacant. Still today, when I go to any house in any country, I look around to find the chair where the father of the house sits, and I will not sit on that chair. When people insist that I do, I simply explain, “I am sorry. It is out of respect. I cannot do it.”
Over the years I have watched young people, with great potential, wreck their lives. One of the main reasons is, even with the call of God and the marvelous gifts He has so graciously given them, they became proud.
Within three to five years, these skilled individuals start thinking they know more than their parents, their pastors and their elders. They no longer seek to learn and understand. The Enemy now has the advantage.
It is like a five-year-old cedar tree. It truly is beautiful. It is the real thing, but it will take another 15, 20, even 30 years before the cedar can be a tree that achieves its unique potential. A young person who understands submission and chooses to respect his or her elders will make it in the end and also be blessed.
A Heart of Loyalty
When we are truly submitting to authority, one of the evidences will be maintaining loyalty. We won’t gossip and pick up the telephone to get our friends to go against our leaders.
Titus 3:1-2 ( NIV, emphasis mine) says, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”
In my younger days when I was in North India serving the Lord on a ministry team, I was an assistant, and our leader was from Europe. There were seven or eight of us young fellows on the team. More often than not, we had nowhere to sleep except under the trees on the roadside. We sold books to make just enough money to buy some food, and we would preach and then move on to the next area.
But there was a problem. Looking back, I would say that our assigned leader was lacking in leadership skills. Maybe it was that he was from the West and didn’t understand what was appropriate in India. Often he got us into these ridiculous situations, though I’m sure now that he didn’t realize what he was doing. For me at that time, however, it was absolutely outrageous how he carried out his responsibilities. This made our service hard. I talked to him, but he never really understood.
Then one morning I decided I wasn’t going to put up with this any more. So I spoke my mind in front of the whole team. I complained about one thing after another, building my case. For nearly a half-hour, I railed on while the others sat in dead silence. All of a sudden I looked at my leader. He had tears running down his cheeks like small rivers from his eyes. He just sat there.
Suddenly the fear of God came upon me. I realized what I was actually doing. Immediately I stopped and asked, “Would you please forgive me? I have done wrong. Never again will I say one unkind thing about you. This is all wrong.”
He didn’t change, but I did! That was when I first learned to fear the Lord when speaking against authority. From then on I served this person like a servant. I even covered up the mistakes he made and did my best to protect him. I cannot thank God enough for His mercy in helping me begin to learn this lesson.
Later, when I suffered under another leader, I said, “Lord, I am called to submit. I do not know what this will mean in the end. I have no one except You. But I will not open my mouth and attack.”
Submitting to our authority is seen in maintaining loyalty even when it results in personal loss and pain.
Write That letter
Just as these reflections indicate a submitted heart, the absence of these characteristics reveals rebellion in our hearts at least to some extent.
If the Lord has convicted you of rebellion against any authority, whomever it might be, I recommend that you make it right. Just settle it. Go and say to that person, “I am so sorry. Would you please forgive me?” That’s all you have to do.
Reflect back, and if you have disobeyed your parents, write that email or letter, make that telephone call and be sure you have made things right with them, for it is the way of blessing and it pleases the Lord.
I went back to my authorities and asked forgiveness for the rebellion I carried in my heart. The truth is, I’ve done this several times. As soon as I realized it was there, I sought forgiveness. I am so glad I did. I know you will be too.
This is the beginning
As long as the earth remains, there will be seasons—seasons for sowing and seasons for reaping. Often we just want to reap. These are the happiest occasions in life.
As you deliberately choose to submit, the fruit of submission will be in your life. True, there will be some habits in your life that will take time to change. Don’t expect instant results. Rather, as you are willing to keep your heart open to God, you will find the seed that has been sown will produce fruit that remains.
Why do I say that? As I look back over almost four decades, I still thank God for that day when I began to learn these principles.
Dear Lord, we are truly humbled when we see all that we have yet to learn. Give us patience as we grow. Lord, we trust You to complete Your work in us. Thank You for Your grace. Amen.