Submit…
The word “triggered” has taken on new meaning in the English lexicon. It has always been around, of course, and used in the practical sense of activating something with a trigger. During the war, if a booby trap was set off you would say it had been “triggered.” These days the word is often used to describe a strong adverse emotional reaction to something. For example, “The student in the front row was triggered when the instructor mentioned that they had voted for the president.”
Words that set off an emotional reaction are “trigger words.” One of the oldest trigger words in the English language is the word, “submit.”
The word “submit” comes from the Latin, submittere. “Sub” meaning “under” and “mittere” meaning “to put.” So the word “submit” means to “put under” whatever you are submitting to.
Nobody, it seems, likes to submit. Yet the Bible talks about submitting a lot. All of us are to submit to God as the ultimate authority. Because God is invisible to our eyes, he gets a pass on this topic. People, it seems, don’t mind submitting to something that they can’t see. But when it comes to submitting to another person, we don’t like that.
Even kids, who are to honor their mother and father, don’t like to submit. I’m not sure why this is, but my guess is that few people who have kids or have been a kid would argue with me about that.
The reason I am writing about this now is that the next eighteen verses are all about this word, submit. Peter is going to tell us that we need to submit to this and that. He is going to write like he expects us to submit to him on this topic. Of course, he is with the Lord now, so we can’t argue with him, but his words still haunt us.
I am as stiff-necked as they come. My life would have been a lot easier if I had submitted to the authorities God put in my life. Submitting does not come any easier to me than it does to any of you.
As we talk about this word in the coming verses, please remember that you do not have to submit to Peter’s instructions if you do not want to submit to God. Yet, if you desire to do God’s will, that is to submit to God, then we have to consider Peter’s words carefully.
Application: Think about what it means to submit and ask yourself if you are willing to submit to God.
Food for Thought: Based on all you know about God, how important is it for you and I to submit to Him?
Jesus said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6: 46). We need to submit to Him because He is our Master. To not do so is denying Him His rightful place and to rebel against Him as King in our lives.
It is also wise to submit. To not do so is to submit to another Master and Jesus says that is building our house on a bad foundation. That leads to destruction when the storms of life come (Luke 6: 47 – 49). And who would actually do that when they can have a solid foundation?
We all have a Master. It can be money, self, work, alcohol, etc. Only One Master meets the need of our soul for which we were created. Jesus does not just want to be our Master to be in charge. He wants to be our Master because it will save us a lot of heartache and pain.
It is critical that we allow Him His rightful place to be in a right relationship with Him and for our lives to be in alignment with His will. The warning in Matthew 7: 21 – 23 shows this is important for the next life as well. We are saved by grace. But people saved by grace will natural seek to make Him Lord.
Rich,
Thank you! Your words provide an excellent overview of our need and responsibility as believers.
Based on all you know about God, how important is it for you and I to submit to Him?
It is crucial, for our salvation and walk with God. Neither can occur unless we humbly submit to God. We begin with our salvation, our free gift from God, by responding to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge and turn from our sins, accept His eternal power over all sin in our lives, through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
Next, as adopted children of God, we must begin our new life by humbly submitting to the moment by moment, daily guidance of the Holy Spirit. Learn to live in the Kingdom of our Omnipresent God with His power. Daily study and live in His Word, He will open the eyes of our hearts and provide rewarding direction to our lives, as we experience life as we had never before known.
God has been so very faithful to me as I have stumbled and fallen so many times. He is always there to pick me up, dust me off and hold my hands as we try again. I am never alone in this once dark world which has become brightly colored, 3D. I have no fears, no concerns as I walk in obedience, surrounded by chaos and insanity. I have the peace only God can provide and as my wife says, “ It’s like living on Noahs Ark while the world floods.” We walk in God with no fear of the rising waters.
Ron,
Thank you! Your words are inspiring! You make an important point, too. It is crucial that we submit to God.
Yes Jeff, this is the one opportunity given to everyone.
👍