Mutual Respect

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Chris"t.  Ephesians 5:21

Submission is subordination of one’s will over that of another. It is not insisting on one’s way but honoring and respecting the rights and expectations of others. The bible says that wives should submit to their husbands, children should submit to their parents, and servants submit to their masters. In all of these there is a reciprocal requirement for husbands to love their wives, parents not to exasperate their children and masters to threaten their servants. These reciprocal actions also imply submission. You cannot love somebody and fail to submit to what they need and desire. 1^st Corinthians verse 5 says that love does not dishonor others, nor is it self-seeking. If you do not want to frustrate your children you also have to recognize their rights and take into consideration their views which could be divergent from yours. And servants also deserve a hearing and due reward for their work.

Submission is a choice that comes from a position of strength; it is different from oppression. It is a surrender of the rights you have for a given purpose, for example order. Jesus submitted his divine nature to live as a man in order to save humankind. Timothy accepted circumcision so as not to stumble the Jews he was ministering to, because they held passionately to the practice; even if it was not a requirement for salvation. The Jewish apostles accepted to eat with the Gentiles, even though some of their fare was culturally detestable to them, to ensure continued fellowship of the believers.

Submit to others today; for peace, goodwill, love and respect; and as a measure of your reverence to Christ.

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Wise Quote: "The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people half way." ~Henry Boyle

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