July 10: Insight Post by Bret Burzio
Friday Insight Post
by J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
As we dig into what God’s word teaches us about submission this month, let’s first pray to Him for open ears, open eyes, and open hearts. We need to be honest with God, and with ourselves, as we approach this subject. Because submission is really about being humble enough to fall under God’s authority and His will.
This is what we see Jesus doing in our Philippians 2:4-7 passage this week, “7…He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. 8When He appeared in human form; He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Jesus, though the perfect and sinless Son of God, humbled and submitted Himself to everything God called Him to do. And we are to have the same attitude as Christ by being obedient to God’s will for our lives. That in and of itself is a greatly humbling thought!
Now we, as imperfect humans, must also factor in our sinful nature when talking about submission. I like the Cambridge Dictionary definition of Humility. It says that humility is “the quality of not being proud because you are aware of your bad qualities.” This is where we need to be praying for: those open ears, open eyes, and open hearts. This is also where we can call on the Holy Spirit to direct us to take a healthy stance of humility by showing us where we have work to do.
I think it’s also important to understand that in God’s economy submission is not weakness as the world views weakness. It is rather quite the opposite! When we humble ourselves before Him and submit completely to His will we tap into a heavenly strength that allows us to get through the hard and painful times in our lives. And in God’s economy, we do this together, side-by-side, humbly washing each other’s feet as Jesus so perfectly showed us how to do.
J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
Executive Administrator
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
newhope.org