DEVOTION – DAY 132

​Ephesians 5:21 “Submit To One Another Out Of Reverence For Christ”

 

Eph.5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

 

This verse is my favorite verse when counseling couples who intend to get married. Often, couples look at this section of Ephesians and begin from vv.22 onwards in learning about God’s instructions relating to wives and husbands. They overlook v.21 but this verse is the most important verse.

This verse is useful not just for couples but for everyone because all of us have relationships with others. We can be co-workers. We can be siblings. We can be boss and employees. We can be mother and child. We can be friends. We can be neighbors. We can be church members. Our relationships with others may not always be smooth. Disagreements occur when we hold different views about something and we insist that our way is better and should prevail. And the other person disagrees and angry words are exchanged. Both sides want their way and insist on that they are right. Relationships become broken because of such disagreements. Before that happens, we must remember Eph.5:21 and apply it.

In any relationship with other people with different views, we must remember that there are 3 parties involved. First, there is ourselves. Second, there is the other party. Third, there is Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is present, we must first ask what Jesus would want us to do when there is a disagreement. We will recall that Jesus in Matt.5:23-24 tells us to seek reconciliation and settle differences quickly and restore peace. We will recall that Jesus said in Matt.5:41 to be the first to go the extra mile and forgo our rights in order to restore peace. We will recall that Jesus said in Matt.22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Because Jesus is present and He tells us this is what we have to do, we submit to His Will for us and we work with the other party to reconcile and have peace with them. We do our best to find a solution and we go the extra mile to make peace. We show love, patience and understanding to the other party. We treat them as we would treat ourselves. When we do all these things, disagreements with others can be resolved because we have submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ. I have found this verse very helpful whenever I find myself in some disagreement. I will have to swallow my pride and be the first one to apologize for the offense made in failing to understand the other person’s point of view. I will do my best to speak calmly and make every effort to restore peace and when the other party sees my efforts at restoring peace, the other party will also calm down.

Let us pray: Dear Father, thank you for teaching us from your Word the value of submission to others out of reverence for the Lord. Help us to apply this always so that peace always prevails. In the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How do you react normally when you have disagreements with others?
  2. From this devotion, what changes will you make in the way you handle disagreements with others in the future?
  3. Why is it difficult for you to submit to others out of reverence for Christ? Discuss.
  4. How can you overcome the difficulties shared in question 3 above so that you find it easier to submit to others?