Your Daily Devotional for November 17, 2006

 

November 17, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: Through Submission

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

 

Hebrews 13:17

 

 

It had been a long night and the ship crew was tired. The captain was near exhaustion and needed to rest. As he headed below, he looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately, he told his signalman to send a message to the other ship: "Alter your course ten degrees south." Promptly, a return message was received: "Alter your course ten degrees north."

The captain was angered that his command had been challenged. With fire in his bones he sent a second message: "Alter your course ten degrees south—I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course ten degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones."

This was an outrage! A mere sailor had the audacity to ignore his commands and to order him as to what to do! Immediately, the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course ten degrees south—I am a battleship." Then the reply came "Alter your course ten degrees north—I am a lighthouse."

Many times while we are going through a storm or trial in our lives, we will receive counsel from many different sources, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. But there is one source of counsel that will never fail us. This source is the Light of the world and He wants to help us and guide us through our tough times if we will be willing to submit to His will.

We live in a time where the word submission is seen as weakness. People are told to stand up and “take it,” to make their own rules and to do their own thing. Yet, as the world screams “Rebel!” God wants us to submit to His will for our lives. He wants us to submit to His standards and boundaries. He knows what is good for us and He wants to help us along through life, but first we must submit.

 

You must realize that in submitting to God, you are not submitting to a philosophy. You are not submitting to another idea or “fad.” You are submitting to God, who sees what we can’t see and knows what we don’t know. God has a divine plan for your life and wants only the best for you. Why wouldn’t you want to submit to Him and to His will for your life? Once you surrender to God, you will find that His will is better than anything you could have planned for yourself!

 

Submitting to Christ is one way we can express our thanks to Him. It tells God that we trust Him with our lives. Have you submitted to Him today? Have you submitted your will to Him and placed yourself under His control? Take time to let Him know you are thankful He submitted to His Father’s will at Calvary and submit to His will for your life today.

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