The new year has arrived and with it comes new opportunities and new possibilities. Will we be prepared for them? Will we be able to grow in our walk with the Lord? Will we demonstrate the qualities of a disciple in our lives better this year than in all the previous years? And will we want to experience life with God as our source like never before? We can if we commit to be submitted to the Lord. You see there are lots of people who call themselves Christians. They go to church and partake in Christian activities yet they do not manifest transformed lives; they claim that Jesus is their Lord yet not do not obey his will. A transformed life is one that is focused on and submitted to the Lord Jesus, yielded and guided by the Holy Spirit and obedient to God’s word. Those who live transformed lives do not live like the rest of the world. They do things that others would not consider doing like helping the weak and the downcast. They do not talk like the world; they do not go around cursing those they disagree with rather they bless them. They give when others say to hold on to what little you have. They love and minister those who are less attractive, less popular who are not able to pay back.
Yet many of us Christians have yet to grasp the need to abandon our pride and take seriously what God’s word tells us to do. To do things such as love one another, do not judge or speak against one another, go the second mile, to be a blessing rather than always seeking a blessing, to share the message of salvation through Christ and to bring glory and honor to Jesus. Yes, there are some in the body of Christ who often insist on having their own way and thus give Christ a bad name or reputation. Yet, if we are submitted to Christ we will behave differently.
Living a submitted life is easy in concept but can be difficult in practice. To be submitted to Christ we abandon what we want to do, resist the impulses of our sinful nature, the flesh, and say no to the temptations and the pressures of the world while staying focused on the Lord and what he says to do. Our desire is to please him. How do we know what the Lord wants us to do? We obey what he has already told us to do in his word. We spend time in his word so we can see what manner of person that we are; not what manner of person our neighbor is or a teacher or pastor is, but what kind of person we are are. And we take time each day to pray and to fellowship with the Lord Jesus listening for his instructions. His voice is not difficult to hear if we are accustomed to spending time in his presence. Remember He said in John 10, “My sheep hear my voice.” And do not worry about what the Lord might ask you to do. He loves us and he will take care of us. He guarantees that he will always be with us.
Are you one of his submitted sheep? If not, then commit to submit today!