Submission

Well, I have been to all my classes as of this afternoon and I feel that I am going to like this semester. It is going to be a challenge because I am going to have to learn and apply a lot of new stuff in a very short amount of time. I am okay with this though because I know that this is what I want to do and I am willing to put in the time and effort needed in order to succeed. I have met a few people and have classes with others that I know and I think that it will make the semester a little easier because I will actually have people I know to study with and I will be able to discuss things with people in class instead of trying to figuring out everything on my own. I know God has put me here for a reason and I know that he is going to continue to use me and I cannot wait to jump into the trainer's room and observe over the next few months. I was able to resist today and I am proud of that fact, I walked away from temptation and overcame. I know this seems miniscule but when one is growing, each step is vital to the process. 

It seems like most of these devotions follow a similar topic for a few days and then move on and today is titled "Walking in Agreement and Submission" the text is Ephesians 6:5-7 which states, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like Slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." I believe I have used these verses before for a devotion but it is a good set of verses. Pretty much what the author of the devotional is trying to say is that we need to be submissive to our leaders and those we are working under because they have God appointed power. He then goes on to state that most people say they are submissive to God  yet they to not submit to their leaders who have God given authority and therefore they cannot be fully submissive to God. I know I struggle with this sometimes and I do not want to always do as I am asked. Usually I am more than willing to help but there are times in which I feel that i am better suited doing something my own way and ignoring what I have been told.  We might feel that we are always submissive because we always agree with our parents when they tell us something or when our boss tells us we need to do something and it always sounds okay, but we do not know submission until we do something that we disagree with, especially when it comes from God given authority. See when we do something we do not agree with because we do not like the idea, we are being submissive.  It should also be noted that it is not right to follow commands that violate scripture because then you are not following God given authority because someone is abusing the power they are being given.  Stand firm and follow God's plan for you and those he has appointed to take care of you and things will run smoothly. There will be bumps in the road but for the most part, things will be fine and we will have nothing to complain about. 

If possible, Meditate on Romans 13:1-2 which states, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for their is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves."  What a powerful scripture. I think this is trying to tell us that if we do not fully submit to our leaders, we are going to have to answer to that action in heaven. It's all about the walk and how we conduct ourselves in our relationship. Sounds weird but since it is God give authority, we must respect him and as our creator, we must submit to that, if we do not then we will be headed for some trouble.  In closing, the author of the devotional believes that "God will never establish you as an authority until you have first learned to submit to authority." I would believe this to be true but I am not exactly sure how to take it at this time so I will think about it and address it tomorrow. It has a good message behind it but I am just not sure how to apply it.

I hope you all have a great day and I am still praying for all of you.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson