Obediently Submitted

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus….” - Philippians 2:1-11

The Lord has commanded us in John 15:9 saying, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” The question is: ‘How has God loved?' We know that the greatest demonstration of the love of God is through the cross of Calvery, where God sacrificed His Son, Jesus. God so loved by giving His only, and Christ likewise loved by giving His all in obedience and complete surrender to the will of the Father. Now we are commanded to love in the same way, to continue in this “only-all” agape demonstration of love toward others. Our Lord has said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13)

Now it may be said of Jesus that He was the forerunner of this kind of love through His incarnation, as He left His glorious life equal to God in all things, to take on the form of a man. Or, it can be said that He was the forerunner of this kind of love through physically laying down His life in a gory death at the cross of Calvary for our sake. However, this “Greater love” that He would have us to continue in, I believe is most clearly and accurately seen not in His incarnation or His crucifixion, but rather, in how Jesus lived out His life in service to others. Out of obedience to the will of the Father, He was given to the service of others. It can clearly be said of Him that He esteemed others as being better than Himself, and wasn’t focused on His things, but also the things of others. Jesus had no personal life whereby He was given to pursue the fulfillment of His own needs or wants. Man who has a daily need for food, Jesus would respond, “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34). Therefore, I believe to continue in the love of Christ we must be completely surrendered to the will of the Father in His pursuit, care, and service toward others. To meet the request of others as they demand of us attention, time, prayer, resources, and more both naturally and supernaturally, in the same way, that Jesus uninhibitedly met the needs of the blind, the lame, the mute, the sick, the hungry, and the bound. We must be given to the service of others by the will of God. The word of God says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1John 3:16-17)

The scripture excerpt at the start of this article if you continue to read through it says, that Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8). In our homes and on our jobs we have a reputation, and with it comes certain entitlements and beliefs concerning our responsibilities, rights, and privileges. Whether it be under the title of husband or wife, mother or father, sister or brother, neighbor or friend, co-worker, supervisor or manager, or even pastor, missionary, evangelist, apostle, or simply a child of God, we have in our respective titles our own understanding of what our various roles entail. However, when it comes to our Lord who held and still holds the title of Son of God, being equal to God, it is said that He “made himself of no reputation”, meaning He emptied Himself. We struggle oftentimes with still holding on to titles, positions, our own understanding through past experiences, that we cannot seem to empty ourselves of ourselves and live and operate as a servant. It seems that Instead of seeking to fulfill the needs and wishes of others, we are often in pursuit to ensure that our own needs are being met. Our Lord did not do this. Though He is God, and His role is far greater, His title far grander, His abilities unlimited, and His rights and entitlements deserved, yet and still He humbles Himself. Why is it then that we struggle to live empty when we are laying down far less? It was humbling for Him to put on this fleshly suit (to be human), and yet we wear it with pride. It was humbling for Him to serve when He should be being served, and yet we strive for the kind of social status that would allow us to receive the grandiose service of others.

There is a decision that we have to make, and no one else can make it for us, it is to decide to live empty, not requiring of others what we think is deservedly ours. To choose to walk in the disposition of a servant, for no other reason than that it is what our Lord did, and it is what our Lord wants. But what if those in whom we are serving be tyrants and unmerciful, showing very little kindness? Then we do what our Lord did (respond as He responded) because that is what He wants. If we find ourselves becoming emotional, irritated by the response we get from others whom we serve, because our own needs and wants are still competing for first place, we must remind ourselves that we are seeking to please the Father, to fulfill His joy and not that of others. If we are obediently submitted to His will in this, His joy will be in us, and our joy will be full. To live a life of love unencumbered by the pursuit of our own needs and wants, but just to do what God wants brings peace and joy.