I got the chance to visit a different Meridian Woods Young Families LIFE Group this Friday. (Ours was unable to meet.) So, instead of studying a chapter of Luke, we spend an hour or so discussing the meaning and practical application of a chapter from Ephesians. It just happened to be Chapter 5 which focuses on submission -- a somewhat controversial topic in today’s culture.
In reviewing the scriptures, we started at verse 21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” As the evening progressed, I kept contemplating this thought: What is the difference between “mutual submission aimed at accomplishing a mission” and “cooperation?” It’s funny to me that submission has gotten such a bad connotation, but cooperation is highly revered.
A fuller understanding of Godly submission -- especially Christ’s sacrificial example of servanthood -- greatly changes the perspective. When added to the urgent prayers for unity that our Lord lifted to God prior to His death, we -- as members of The Church -- need to be about cooperating. We each need to ponder the value and practice the art of “mutual submission aimed at accomplishing God’s mission.”
