“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21
Here is yet another verse underscoring that our relationship with Jesus makes every other relationship work.
If I love Jesus, I will love the “one anothers” in my life. Because I have been forgiven by Jesus, I must forgive the “one anothers” in my life. And because I want to honor and revere Jesus, I will submit to the “one anothers” in my life.
Jesus is the inspiration, the reason, and the joyful compulsion for pushing forward to release inexplicable love, forgiveness, respect, and honor.
And, most importantly, He is also the source of the ability to get it done.
There is no fuel in my fleshly engine to love and keep on loving, to forgive and keep on forgiving, to submit and keep on submitting. The assignment is way too exhausting, painful, time-consuming, and humiliating.
I can’t do it. The “Laura” in me gives out, gives up, or (in many cases) never even gets started.
With some “one anothers” in my life, I just don’t want to.
With others, I’ve tried and given up.
A horizontal view prompts a zillion reasons (…excuses?) why I cannot and should not. I can easily justify giving myself a pass. Perhaps I even congratulate myself for simply considering the release of love, forgiveness, and honor to a particular person.
But then there’s the vertical perspective. I look up. Focusing my heart and mind on Jesus brings contrition. He loves me in spite of. He forgives me even if. He honors me no matter.
He knows everything – all the stuff I’ve thought, said, and done. Even the ugly buried deep, He knows. And He loves, forgives, and honors me anyway.
I am wholly undeserving, and He gives anyway.
If I hold tenaciously to anger, resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness – and refuse to release love, honor, forgiveness, and compassion – perhaps it says more about my relationship with Jesus than my fractured relationship with my “one another.”
- Do I trust He is big enough to protect me?
- Do I trust He will see and provide?
- Do I believe He is able to help me do what I could never do on my own?
- Do I believe Him?
- Is the object of my faith bigger than my what-ifs?
Clearly, this girl has some praying and pondering to do! How about you?
Our Write the WORD bookmark for March is now available, and in this week’s teaching video, Laura takes a few moments to introduce our next topic. To prepare our hearts for Easter, we’ve chosen the word RIGHTEOUSNESS. We invite you to listen as Laura unpacks truth about righteousness — before the cross and after — and encourage you to download your own copy of our March bookmark as we get ready to read, write, and study what scripture says about righteousness in the coming month.
