(Ann Halim shared this with me this week, and it has blessed my life so very much that I wanted to share it with you.)
Submission and Grace
Sometimes we get trapped between the hard rock of bitterness and the ragged reality of living life’s consequences. Drinking in the dank staleness of regrettable conclusions and unfulfilled aches, we settle down in the mire, smearing it onto the soul that weeps in our chest. How did we get here? And why, for heaven’s sake, do we stay? How were we trapped, when grace beckons at every choice, beyond every option, even those that weren’t our own? Perhaps those are the hardest: the ones in which we didn’t have a vote, those foisted on us, especially by those we love most–or should. In that bog, bitterness blossoms in the fertile soil of self-pity and despair.
How quickly we forget…
…that an unplanned pregnancy could bring the greatest of blessings – perhaps even salvation.
…that a rebellious child showcases the absolute grandeur of unrequited grace.
…that the jarring betrayal of unfaithfulness could evince the supreme demonstration of overpowering love.
Indeed, how soon we forget…
In the midst of such thoughts, sweet Spirit-whispers reverberated in the hollow halls of despondency, truths so simple and direct they were astounding.
~Submission is accepting the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
Matt. 26:39 “Not as I will, but as you will.”
~Grace is sharing the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
Is. 53:5 “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.”
~Grace is lovingly sharing the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
~Grace is joyfully sharing the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
Heb. 12:2 “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
~Grace is embracing the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
Philippians 2:6-8 “…though He (Christ) was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
~Grace is praising God for the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~Grace is praising God for the privilege of sharing the consequences of someone else’s behavior.
John 17:9 “I am praying for…those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All mine are Yours and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
Ps. 50:23 (ESV) “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me.”
Heb. 13:15 “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.”
Deeper and deeper He leads…into His heart, into His plan.
I will follow….
Photo credit: Julie Escobar
