Together # 2
A Together of Relationship with God
A Together of Relationship with God
Submit to God Together
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Let God have His way. Come under His authority together.
Let God have His way. Come under His authority together.
1 Sam 3:10-18; 2 Sam 15:25-26; Mark 14:35-36;
John 13:8-9; Heb 12:7-11; James 4:7
John 13:8-9; Heb 12:7-11; James 4:7
Submitting to God starts by growing to see everything from God’s perspective. We are too accustomed to seeing our lives from the present inside rather than from the eternal outside. Submitting to God together requires us to look at ourselves and others as best we can from the viewpoint of God. To do so, together we examine Scripture more deeply so that we see things as does God. We can’t go far in letting God have His way if we can’t understand Him or His view.
Before conversion we did not live for God or His purposes. Even if we lived honorably, we did not possess our new spirits that make possible having God’s thoughts and feelings behind our good works nor His glory as our goal.
Then, when we accepted God’s great gift of salvation by believing the good news of Jesus Christ, we were born again and became new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). We each were to begin living for God and becoming like Him.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
Romans 8:29a
. . . put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:22-24
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
Romans 8:29a
. . . put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:22-24
The end of the journey of this transformation is to let Jesus Christ live in us completely, at which point we submit to God totally. And this change, although important in each of us, is most important in all of us together
. . . so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:12-13
until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:12-13
Christian leaders are to see that this transformation into the “fullness of Christ” happens.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service,
. . . attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service,
. . . attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
The Togethers of Scripture, each defined by specific verses and passages from the Bible make up the bulk of the “works of service” for which we are to be equipped that lead to completeness in Christ. While we can and should do occasional acts of service in our organizational churches and in society, it is in our Inner Christian Circles that the bulk of good works are to be done. And they are easily defined by the Togethers.
Thus, this transformation in each of us and in all of us together depends upon letting God have His way in our most frequent and intense Christian relationships, those of Christian friendships, Christian families and Christian marriages. Letting God have his way in these relationships will powerfully change us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Christian friends when they are together need to grow in their ability to submit to God in what they do within their friendship. Friendships not submitted to God can be fun and full of great companionship. But, those friendships will only minimally be lived for God or His glorify. To say that God will be glorified if we are enjoying one another as friends is not significant enough for what we have been called to as Christians. While that may be the standard for the world, it is not for the people of God in their friendships.
Close, trusted friendships may be the most powerful relationships in the church for developing Christlikeness. Often friends do not have to be as careful with what they say or do as they might with their husbands or wives. And many things are not appropriate for family discussions. So, it is great spiritual gain as well as a tremendous gift to God to submit your friendships with other Christians to God’s ways and purposes.
When friends submit to God with respect to what He wants, they will often push the limits of the 65 Togethers of Scripture. By doing so, they will help one another grow in extreme Christlikeness. That will make Christian friendships into social units of the church that reach out to people in need, spread the gospel, battle in the spiritual realm, all the time transforming friends into exceptional Christians.
Christian families also need to grow in their ability to submit to God in how they relate in family life. Letting God have His way, submitting to Him as a family, should be foundational for all Christian families. Families are critical expressions of the church. Everyone’s first lessons in how to live life happen in the family. That is why God’s best way of living together as instructed in Scripture is so important. Primarily, this entails the Togethers.
Over time, the many challenges that come up in family life over time represent most situations of life. The Togethers of Scripture cover how to deal with most of those situations. And all are wonderful opportunities to change to be more like Christ.
These opportunities in the Christian family are usually defeated by the rush to get on with the activities at hand. Time is not taken to stop and decide how Jesus would want situations handled. Thus, it is often impossible to see family complications from God’s viewpoint and decide how to submit to His way of dealing with them. However, this can be done by Christian families studying the Togethers in order to be prepared in advance to deal with circumstances in God’s way when they arise continually.
What happens in Christian families, especially the problems and difficulties, are opportunities for submitting to God’s ways and developing further into the character of Jesus.
Christian spouses also need to grow in their ability to submit to God in how they conduct their marriage and what they do together in their relationship. Usually husbands and wives just want their relationship to be peaceful and easy. For that to happen, they have to “dumb down” to basic pleasantries. Fortunately, that usually doesn’t happen. Married life presents many problems. Submission to God’s ways of dealing with these difficult situations makes possible changing more into the image of Jesus Christ.
The difficulties in marriage, probably more than in any other Christian relationship, forces faithful Christians to become more like Jesus. Submitting to God, Christian spouses stay together and face their problems. As a result, their marriage survives and grows, and husband and wife both change more into the image of Jesus.
Unfortunately, many Christian marriages are not truly submitted to God. In so many ways spouses act counter to the Togethers of Scripture. They do not bear with one another patiently, do not readily forgive one another, or do not deeply look out for one another’s good, to name just 5 percent of the Togethers. As a counselor working with troubled marriages, I have witnessed that too many Christians are not really interested in growing in Scriptural obedience, helping one another, or becoming more like Jesus in a God-centered marriage. All it seems they want is ease of relationship.
Without submitting to God in how He wants husbands and wives to treat each other, spouses actually hurt one another. This is tragic in a relationship that is to be governed by love for each other rather than love for self.
The Togethers are God’s answers to how to treat each other in marriage. To stay married and to raise children together, husbands and wives have to solve problems, not avoid them. When difficulties arise, one or more of the Togethers shows God’s best way to handle them. Submitting to God means putting these Togethers into action.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Thus, this transformation in each of us and in all of us together depends upon letting God have His way in our most frequent and intense Christian relationships, those of Christian friendships, Christian families and Christian marriages. Letting God have his way in these relationships will powerfully change us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Christian friends when they are together need to grow in their ability to submit to God in what they do within their friendship. Friendships not submitted to God can be fun and full of great companionship. But, those friendships will only minimally be lived for God or His glorify. To say that God will be glorified if we are enjoying one another as friends is not significant enough for what we have been called to as Christians. While that may be the standard for the world, it is not for the people of God in their friendships.
Close, trusted friendships may be the most powerful relationships in the church for developing Christlikeness. Often friends do not have to be as careful with what they say or do as they might with their husbands or wives. And many things are not appropriate for family discussions. So, it is great spiritual gain as well as a tremendous gift to God to submit your friendships with other Christians to God’s ways and purposes.
When friends submit to God with respect to what He wants, they will often push the limits of the 65 Togethers of Scripture. By doing so, they will help one another grow in extreme Christlikeness. That will make Christian friendships into social units of the church that reach out to people in need, spread the gospel, battle in the spiritual realm, all the time transforming friends into exceptional Christians.
Christian families also need to grow in their ability to submit to God in how they relate in family life. Letting God have His way, submitting to Him as a family, should be foundational for all Christian families. Families are critical expressions of the church. Everyone’s first lessons in how to live life happen in the family. That is why God’s best way of living together as instructed in Scripture is so important. Primarily, this entails the Togethers.
Over time, the many challenges that come up in family life over time represent most situations of life. The Togethers of Scripture cover how to deal with most of those situations. And all are wonderful opportunities to change to be more like Christ.
These opportunities in the Christian family are usually defeated by the rush to get on with the activities at hand. Time is not taken to stop and decide how Jesus would want situations handled. Thus, it is often impossible to see family complications from God’s viewpoint and decide how to submit to His way of dealing with them. However, this can be done by Christian families studying the Togethers in order to be prepared in advance to deal with circumstances in God’s way when they arise continually.
What happens in Christian families, especially the problems and difficulties, are opportunities for submitting to God’s ways and developing further into the character of Jesus.
Christian spouses also need to grow in their ability to submit to God in how they conduct their marriage and what they do together in their relationship. Usually husbands and wives just want their relationship to be peaceful and easy. For that to happen, they have to “dumb down” to basic pleasantries. Fortunately, that usually doesn’t happen. Married life presents many problems. Submission to God’s ways of dealing with these difficult situations makes possible changing more into the image of Jesus Christ.
The difficulties in marriage, probably more than in any other Christian relationship, forces faithful Christians to become more like Jesus. Submitting to God, Christian spouses stay together and face their problems. As a result, their marriage survives and grows, and husband and wife both change more into the image of Jesus.
Unfortunately, many Christian marriages are not truly submitted to God. In so many ways spouses act counter to the Togethers of Scripture. They do not bear with one another patiently, do not readily forgive one another, or do not deeply look out for one another’s good, to name just 5 percent of the Togethers. As a counselor working with troubled marriages, I have witnessed that too many Christians are not really interested in growing in Scriptural obedience, helping one another, or becoming more like Jesus in a God-centered marriage. All it seems they want is ease of relationship.
Without submitting to God in how He wants husbands and wives to treat each other, spouses actually hurt one another. This is tragic in a relationship that is to be governed by love for each other rather than love for self.
The Togethers are God’s answers to how to treat each other in marriage. To stay married and to raise children together, husbands and wives have to solve problems, not avoid them. When difficulties arise, one or more of the Togethers shows God’s best way to handle them. Submitting to God means putting these Togethers into action.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Jack and Roberta were wondering how they might improve their marriage. It was a good marriage, but they were restless and the Holy Spirit was convicting them that their marriage could be much more submitted to God.
On a hike one day in the mountains, as was their usual way, Roberta and Jack were talking negatively about people they knew. All of a sudden they noticed the beauty of the day and the scenery all around them. This brought their thoughts to God and that He would want them to think of others as He does. They sat down on a boulder by a peaceful stream and committed themselves to submit to God and work at seeing others with less judgment and more love. |
Jesus has always been submitted to God the Father, both during His short visit to earth and in heaven before and after that. He faced Satan’s temptations in the wilderness by making God’s way the final authority. And, in the garden before his crucifixion, Jesus momentarily struggled with the temptation to turn back, but quickly declared, “yet not my will, but yours be done” and went on to die a very painful death for our benefit.
Every minute we are awake we have opportunities to submit to God. To submit to God as Jesus did, we have unlimited decisions to let God have His way. We should be busy all of our lives, through submission to God, changing our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions, rejoicing at each and every little advance into the image of Jesus.
We submit to God by adopting His way of thinking about what is happening in our lives and all around us. Often this involves turning away from our old selves that are still tuned in to the desires and ways of sin. For example, when we awake in the morning we can dread the responsibilities that face us and the people who annoy us. Or, we can realize through thinking God’s way that He has given us the gift of another day to live.
Every minute we are awake we have opportunities to submit to God. To submit to God as Jesus did, we have unlimited decisions to let God have His way. We should be busy all of our lives, through submission to God, changing our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions, rejoicing at each and every little advance into the image of Jesus.
We submit to God by adopting His way of thinking about what is happening in our lives and all around us. Often this involves turning away from our old selves that are still tuned in to the desires and ways of sin. For example, when we awake in the morning we can dread the responsibilities that face us and the people who annoy us. Or, we can realize through thinking God’s way that He has given us the gift of another day to live.
This is the day that the Lord has made; . . .
Ps 118:24a
Ps 118:24a
When we think that the solitary Christian life and an individualized faith is the way to live, we are not thinking like God. Throughout the Bible a faith together is clearly God’s desire for us. Therefore, submitting to God means living a life of faith with other Christians. It means knowing what the Scriptures teach us God wants in implementing the Togethers.
We also submit to God by feeling the way God responds to people and events. Since our feelings stem from our thoughts, thinking God’s way should lead to His feelings. If we know that we live this day as a gift from God, then we can choose to enjoy it and find it meaningful.
We also submit to God by feeling the way God responds to people and events. Since our feelings stem from our thoughts, thinking God’s way should lead to His feelings. If we know that we live this day as a gift from God, then we can choose to enjoy it and find it meaningful.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Ps 118:24
Ps 118:24
In a way, our feelings reveal what we truly think. If we are afraid of dying, for example, it must be that we really do not think heaven is real or wonderful. Submitting to God begins with believing the Bible is His trustworthy Word. Then we must choose to think the truths and instructions of the Bible. Feelings that match God’s emotions regarding each situation will follow.
And, of course, we submit to God if our thinking like He thinks leads to feeling as He feels and then leads to acting as much as possible as He does, guided by love, mercy and grace. In the example we have been using, thinking a day is a gift from God and feeling joy and happiness about the day should lead to positive, expectant living.
Following thinking and feeling like God with doing the will of God in action completes that particular transformation into the likeness of our Lord. Those of us who are truly saved should show submission to God and His will through the progression from God’s thinking to God’s emotional response to the actions God desires.
A few examples might help.
If we are driving down a street and see a very heavy person waddling down the sidewalk, we submit to God by thinking of that person as being a victim of Satan resulting in a disease or food addiction. If we then feel sad for the person, we confirm that we are submitting to God and His way of feeling about things. To complete the submission to God, we might pray for that person’s health, salvation, and release from evil influence. If we only thought like God, we would be submitting 33%. It would be 66% if we felt as God would. If we acted concerned as God would act, 100% submission would be achieved. Every day provides multiple opportunities to submit in this complete way to God and be transformed a bit more into Christlikeness.
Perhaps a person at work gets a promotion we know we were more qualified to receive. How does God see this? He probably sees it as just the way He wanted it since He is sovereign and guides the events of our lives. If we think that our not getting the promotion is God’s will and His design for our lives, we are submitted to His way of thinking. How does God feel about our not getting the promotion He did not want for us? Most likely God is pleased. If we are pleased that we did not get the promotion, we are submitted to His way of feeling. How does God want us to act in such a situation. If we are content and congratulate the person promoted, we are submitted to God in action. If the person acknowledges that we should have gotten the promotion, and we answer that we should not have been promoted because God, who watches out for us with complete love, did not want it for us – that would be great submission.
Of course, this depth of submission to God is not easy. That is why we need one another’s help to have victory in submitting to God. To submit to God together as his people, we must help each other see, understand and conform to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of Jesus. His right thinking and merciful emotions are necessary for the good works to be driven by God’s grace.
This is the way to become like Jesus on the inside as well as the outside.
Opportunity to Worship God
And, of course, we submit to God if our thinking like He thinks leads to feeling as He feels and then leads to acting as much as possible as He does, guided by love, mercy and grace. In the example we have been using, thinking a day is a gift from God and feeling joy and happiness about the day should lead to positive, expectant living.
Following thinking and feeling like God with doing the will of God in action completes that particular transformation into the likeness of our Lord. Those of us who are truly saved should show submission to God and His will through the progression from God’s thinking to God’s emotional response to the actions God desires.
A few examples might help.
If we are driving down a street and see a very heavy person waddling down the sidewalk, we submit to God by thinking of that person as being a victim of Satan resulting in a disease or food addiction. If we then feel sad for the person, we confirm that we are submitting to God and His way of feeling about things. To complete the submission to God, we might pray for that person’s health, salvation, and release from evil influence. If we only thought like God, we would be submitting 33%. It would be 66% if we felt as God would. If we acted concerned as God would act, 100% submission would be achieved. Every day provides multiple opportunities to submit in this complete way to God and be transformed a bit more into Christlikeness.
Perhaps a person at work gets a promotion we know we were more qualified to receive. How does God see this? He probably sees it as just the way He wanted it since He is sovereign and guides the events of our lives. If we think that our not getting the promotion is God’s will and His design for our lives, we are submitted to His way of thinking. How does God feel about our not getting the promotion He did not want for us? Most likely God is pleased. If we are pleased that we did not get the promotion, we are submitted to His way of feeling. How does God want us to act in such a situation. If we are content and congratulate the person promoted, we are submitted to God in action. If the person acknowledges that we should have gotten the promotion, and we answer that we should not have been promoted because God, who watches out for us with complete love, did not want it for us – that would be great submission.
Of course, this depth of submission to God is not easy. That is why we need one another’s help to have victory in submitting to God. To submit to God together as his people, we must help each other see, understand and conform to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of Jesus. His right thinking and merciful emotions are necessary for the good works to be driven by God’s grace.
This is the way to become like Jesus on the inside as well as the outside.
Opportunity to Worship God
From his throne at the Father’s right hand in heaven, Jesus noticed Ian’s struggle to have biblical thoughts and feelings about his job. It was Ian’s nature to be dissatisfied. Then, Ian’s good friend Steve commented one day that he was sad that Ian took the joy out of life by being disappointed about so many things.
Because Steve’s concern came from genuine sadness, Ian listened, asked a few questions to understand what Steve was saying, and began to seek help from the Bible and the Holy Spirit to see things positively from God’s perspective. He began to realize that God sees this world as contaminated by sin and that not much can be perfect. And that God is saying that it is okay. As Ian is beginning to think, respond emotionally, and act more in line with this view from heaven, he is not expecting so much comfort and pleasure. As a result, he is accepting of the difficulties at work and in life. And, because He now understands that God recognizes that life in the sinful environment is difficult for everyone, Ian is more compassionate. Instead of complaining, he has begun being helpful. He is submitting to God more and more. This honors God as worship. |
Submitting to God is worship. It shows we value Him. Not letting God have His way is the opposite of worship because it devalues Him and denies Who He is. Letting God have His way is honoring Him, and thus worship.
In like manner, we honor one another on birthdays by letting the celebrant have his or her own way. We would never say, “It is your birthday, so let’s go to my favorite restaurant for lunch.” And, we should never say to God, “You are special and I worship You, but let me think my way, respond emotionally my way, and do things my way!”
How can we hold God in high esteem with words and not submit to His ways? It is easy to feel we have worshiped God genuinely with songs in a worship service, but what if for the rest of the week we ignore how God thinks, feels and acts? That would negate the wonderful things we sang in the worship service.
Submission to God is pleasurable to God, but also very wonderful for us. As just one example, if one of us does not like himself or herself, God thinks differently because He loves us and gave Jesus to us. In such a case, it is transforming to trade our view for His perspective.
In God’s view, we are not who we used to be but who He made us to be in Christ. Letting God’s view of who we are dominate our lives is worship that honors God. And, it sets us free to be more than we ever dreamed we could be. It is submission that should be welcomed by us all!
In like manner, we honor one another on birthdays by letting the celebrant have his or her own way. We would never say, “It is your birthday, so let’s go to my favorite restaurant for lunch.” And, we should never say to God, “You are special and I worship You, but let me think my way, respond emotionally my way, and do things my way!”
How can we hold God in high esteem with words and not submit to His ways? It is easy to feel we have worshiped God genuinely with songs in a worship service, but what if for the rest of the week we ignore how God thinks, feels and acts? That would negate the wonderful things we sang in the worship service.
Submission to God is pleasurable to God, but also very wonderful for us. As just one example, if one of us does not like himself or herself, God thinks differently because He loves us and gave Jesus to us. In such a case, it is transforming to trade our view for His perspective.
In God’s view, we are not who we used to be but who He made us to be in Christ. Letting God’s view of who we are dominate our lives is worship that honors God. And, it sets us free to be more than we ever dreamed we could be. It is submission that should be welcomed by us all!
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun!
2 Cor 5:17 (The Voice Bible)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
2 Cor 5:17 (Amplified Bible)
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In the example we are using, submission to God means letting the Holy Spirit help us to give God His way when we think and feel about ourselves. We are to think of the new self, regenerated by Jesus and changed forever, covered by His own righteousness. We should follow this by thinking of ourselves as loveable and worthwhile. We then act as if we are okay and have something to give those around us. We let Jesus shine through us. Seeing ourselves in this way becomes worship because we are submitting to God’s way of viewing us. This is something we Christians are to help one another do.
Hopefully you can see that every time we yield to God’s way of thinking, feeling and acting, we worship. Instead of an hour or two a week during a worship service at church, we have seven days filled with worship moments, each meaning a lot to God. Whenever, in our Christian Inner Circles, we help one another to submit to God’s perspective, we all worship.
This process of submitting to God’s perspective on all things begins with learning about God. It is only by knowing Him better and better that worship through thinking, feeling and acting like Him is possible.
Bible study together with other Christians is the best way to do this. When reading a Bible passage, it is a must to ask what the passage says about God. Here is an example from the gospel of John.
Hopefully you can see that every time we yield to God’s way of thinking, feeling and acting, we worship. Instead of an hour or two a week during a worship service at church, we have seven days filled with worship moments, each meaning a lot to God. Whenever, in our Christian Inner Circles, we help one another to submit to God’s perspective, we all worship.
This process of submitting to God’s perspective on all things begins with learning about God. It is only by knowing Him better and better that worship through thinking, feeling and acting like Him is possible.
Bible study together with other Christians is the best way to do this. When reading a Bible passage, it is a must to ask what the passage says about God. Here is an example from the gospel of John.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
John 1:45-47
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We learn from these Bible verses that God respects honesty, even if it is not agreeing with Him or complementary to Him. We also understand that He does not like dishonesty or deceit. This will help us become ever more honest with God, even telling Him what we don’t like and asking Him to help us see it from His perspective. Knowing more about God allows us to have a more personal relationship with Him.
Submitting to God requires taking on His views and letting God decide what is true and right. Learning from the Bible how God thinks and sacrificing self to think His way rather than our way is solid worship. It places God on the throne and recognizes His supremacy. For example, when we stop thinking that having enough money is security and take on God’s thinking that security comes from God’s provision, we worship by respecting God. Our trust in Him glorifies who He is, and money is reduced to just something God uses for our needs.
Meditating on Scripture with other believers can teach us how God feels about things. He is a person and has the pure emotions to which we should aspire. When we esteem God’s emotions to the point of adopting them, we ascribe great worth to Him, and this is worship. For example, when we turn from desiring revenge and take on God’s sorrow for the person because he or she was overcome by sin and hurt us, God is worshiped.
Only after we get a handle on how God thinks and feels about something can we ask ourselves what would Jesus do. In many cases it is easy to know what Jesus would do, but it would not be like Him, and thus not the best worship, if it is not backed by the thoughts and emotional responses that Jesus would have related to doing what is right.
It is the whole package of action coming from thoughts and emotions that counts. When everything matches up with God, great worship is given. We are remade through Jesus’ death and resurrection for this kind of worship, this kind of honoring God.
These changes to God’s way of thinking and feeling grow exponentially when we are with other Christians who are transparent and honest about their Christlike thinking and feeling about the things of life. Together, Christians can sort out what is God’s way of thinking, feeling and behaving and help one another to become more and more like Christ. Then we will increasingly be reflecting back to God worship through our thoughts, feelings and actions.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Submitting to God requires taking on His views and letting God decide what is true and right. Learning from the Bible how God thinks and sacrificing self to think His way rather than our way is solid worship. It places God on the throne and recognizes His supremacy. For example, when we stop thinking that having enough money is security and take on God’s thinking that security comes from God’s provision, we worship by respecting God. Our trust in Him glorifies who He is, and money is reduced to just something God uses for our needs.
Meditating on Scripture with other believers can teach us how God feels about things. He is a person and has the pure emotions to which we should aspire. When we esteem God’s emotions to the point of adopting them, we ascribe great worth to Him, and this is worship. For example, when we turn from desiring revenge and take on God’s sorrow for the person because he or she was overcome by sin and hurt us, God is worshiped.
Only after we get a handle on how God thinks and feels about something can we ask ourselves what would Jesus do. In many cases it is easy to know what Jesus would do, but it would not be like Him, and thus not the best worship, if it is not backed by the thoughts and emotional responses that Jesus would have related to doing what is right.
It is the whole package of action coming from thoughts and emotions that counts. When everything matches up with God, great worship is given. We are remade through Jesus’ death and resurrection for this kind of worship, this kind of honoring God.
These changes to God’s way of thinking and feeling grow exponentially when we are with other Christians who are transparent and honest about their Christlike thinking and feeling about the things of life. Together, Christians can sort out what is God’s way of thinking, feeling and behaving and help one another to become more and more like Christ. Then we will increasingly be reflecting back to God worship through our thoughts, feelings and actions.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Margaret and Vince are truly assertive in trying to teach their kids how to be children of the light in a darkened world. Using one weekly family meeting a month, they routinely ask who has noticed something the family or its members thinks, feels, or does that is not what the Bible says is the way God thinks, feels or acts. This is the family’s way of defeating evil by submitting to God.
In these monthly meetings focused on submitting more and more to God, lively dialogue takes place. Everyone gets to explain what they say without being challenged. Family members just speak what they want and depend upon the Holy Spirit to change people. Just last week the family considered how they considered spending money. As a result, they are all struggling with excess desires and the thoughts behind their materialism. |
We defeat evil when we submit to God by adopting His thoughts, feelings, and actions and walking away from thoughts, feelings, and actions that are not consistent with His.
The devil wants us to NOT be in submission to God. The evil one wants us to do things our way. Life gives us continual choices to follow God or to follow other paths. Each time this happens the drama of the Garden of Eden reoccurs. There, Satan succeeded by convincing Adam and Eve to think differently than God. The devil questioned whether God really said it was best for them to live God’s way. Sowing doubt about God’s thoughts, feelings and way of acting is a basic strategy of evil. We Christians must keep one another loyal to God’s way of thinking, feeling and acting. We must help one another submit to His way of living, all the way from thoughts to emotions to behaviors.
For example, at the beginning of our new life in Christ we may see our enemies as people to be afraid of and even hate, even though outwardly we treat them nicely. Eventually we will be changed through the power of the Holy Spirit to willingly put on the new self. Then, freed from the power of sin, we will see enemies as powerless over us in light of God’s sovereign control over our lives. If we allow the Holy Spirit to help us defeat evil by submitting to God’s perspective, we will see our enemies as being lost in their sinfulness and develop compassion for them.
To continue to become more and more like Jesus in submitting to God, we all should delay making decisions that we think might not be what God wants. We need to bring our Christian Inner Circles into the tougher choices. We need to make sure that our friendships, families, marriages and small groups agree to let God have His way, no matter how uncomfortable or disappointing .
We have the opportunity to pray that we will have more and more tough choices so that we can prove our loyalty to letting God have His way increasingly. We should practice to run the race and win the prizes heaven has in store for such obedience.
In every confrontation with what is wrong around us, submission to God’s way of not going along with evil and fighting it will bring much good back into our wayward world. Submitting to God will lead to great longing for righteousness rather than indifference, remarkable mercy rather than inaction, purity in the midst of contamination, and peace rather than discord. And, letting God have His way in seeking righteousness, handing out mercy, letting purity invade society’s impurity, and promoting peace will result in blessing for us, now and for all eternity.
The devil wants us to NOT be in submission to God. The evil one wants us to do things our way. Life gives us continual choices to follow God or to follow other paths. Each time this happens the drama of the Garden of Eden reoccurs. There, Satan succeeded by convincing Adam and Eve to think differently than God. The devil questioned whether God really said it was best for them to live God’s way. Sowing doubt about God’s thoughts, feelings and way of acting is a basic strategy of evil. We Christians must keep one another loyal to God’s way of thinking, feeling and acting. We must help one another submit to His way of living, all the way from thoughts to emotions to behaviors.
For example, at the beginning of our new life in Christ we may see our enemies as people to be afraid of and even hate, even though outwardly we treat them nicely. Eventually we will be changed through the power of the Holy Spirit to willingly put on the new self. Then, freed from the power of sin, we will see enemies as powerless over us in light of God’s sovereign control over our lives. If we allow the Holy Spirit to help us defeat evil by submitting to God’s perspective, we will see our enemies as being lost in their sinfulness and develop compassion for them.
To continue to become more and more like Jesus in submitting to God, we all should delay making decisions that we think might not be what God wants. We need to bring our Christian Inner Circles into the tougher choices. We need to make sure that our friendships, families, marriages and small groups agree to let God have His way, no matter how uncomfortable or disappointing .
We have the opportunity to pray that we will have more and more tough choices so that we can prove our loyalty to letting God have His way increasingly. We should practice to run the race and win the prizes heaven has in store for such obedience.
In every confrontation with what is wrong around us, submission to God’s way of not going along with evil and fighting it will bring much good back into our wayward world. Submitting to God will lead to great longing for righteousness rather than indifference, remarkable mercy rather than inaction, purity in the midst of contamination, and peace rather than discord. And, letting God have His way in seeking righteousness, handing out mercy, letting purity invade society’s impurity, and promoting peace will result in blessing for us, now and for all eternity.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. |
Matthew 5:6-9
Submitting to God and hungering for righteousness in the midst of our Christian friendships, families, marriages, small groups, and churches will take those relationships further into the kingdom of heaven. And, thirsting for righteousness when we are with unbelievers will cause us to want the best for them from God’s perspective. Seeing those addicted to drugs, we will pray for their release. Observing a neighbor always yelling at her children, we will recognize that the needed parenting skill level is not available. Then, we will not only pray but also attempt to teach parenting behaviors that will lighten the load. These examples could go on forever.
Submitting to God and being merciful will bring God and His ways into all of our interactions with people. This should be easy in our Christian Inner Circles, yet more difficult with Christians with whom we are not so close. But, in our interactions with those outside of the faith, mercy will grant the benefit of the doubt, treat hostility with kindness, give help unconditionally, and not hold things against people.
Submitting to God and being pure in heart will let God infiltrate darkness. Submitting to His pure ways of thinking, feeling and behaving will challenge sinfulness everywhere we go. When we are high in our ability to submit to God and let the Holy Spirit have charge, then we don’t need to avoid evil surroundings. We can go with unbelieving workmates and steer their unwholesome talk to more loving subjects, their crude thinking about sex to respect for people, and their greed to contentment with what they have. If they use the name of Jesus as a swear word, we can introduce them to Him as a Person Who is God. If they overuse the phrase, “Oh, My God” or its shorter “OMG”, we can ask what they are saying to God or wanting from Him, introducing them to a more accurate way to use the expression.
Submitting to God and bringing peace to conflict and troubling situations will calm things down. We can bring people together who have become estranged, help people be understood and forgiven, and be proactive in preventing discord when we see it coming. Not working for peace because we are afraid of negative consequences for ourselves is not submitting to God to defeat evil. For this reason, we need to remember that we submit to God together and rarely have to confront disharmony alone.
Whenever possible, we should seek righteousness, provide mercy, spread purity and bring peace with other Christians at our sides. We must fight individualistic faith because it is the default position of our thinking, feeling and acting. And that is not the way of God in most situations. God is wanting His people to walk their faith together, knowing that we will be more victorious in doing things His way if we do.
One Christian submitted to God will surely defeat some evil. But, many Christians submitted to God and thinking, feeling and doing things His way will be much more powerful and defeat much more evil. Let’s allow God to have His way together and see the devil retreat.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Submitting to God and being merciful will bring God and His ways into all of our interactions with people. This should be easy in our Christian Inner Circles, yet more difficult with Christians with whom we are not so close. But, in our interactions with those outside of the faith, mercy will grant the benefit of the doubt, treat hostility with kindness, give help unconditionally, and not hold things against people.
Submitting to God and being pure in heart will let God infiltrate darkness. Submitting to His pure ways of thinking, feeling and behaving will challenge sinfulness everywhere we go. When we are high in our ability to submit to God and let the Holy Spirit have charge, then we don’t need to avoid evil surroundings. We can go with unbelieving workmates and steer their unwholesome talk to more loving subjects, their crude thinking about sex to respect for people, and their greed to contentment with what they have. If they use the name of Jesus as a swear word, we can introduce them to Him as a Person Who is God. If they overuse the phrase, “Oh, My God” or its shorter “OMG”, we can ask what they are saying to God or wanting from Him, introducing them to a more accurate way to use the expression.
Submitting to God and bringing peace to conflict and troubling situations will calm things down. We can bring people together who have become estranged, help people be understood and forgiven, and be proactive in preventing discord when we see it coming. Not working for peace because we are afraid of negative consequences for ourselves is not submitting to God to defeat evil. For this reason, we need to remember that we submit to God together and rarely have to confront disharmony alone.
Whenever possible, we should seek righteousness, provide mercy, spread purity and bring peace with other Christians at our sides. We must fight individualistic faith because it is the default position of our thinking, feeling and acting. And that is not the way of God in most situations. God is wanting His people to walk their faith together, knowing that we will be more victorious in doing things His way if we do.
One Christian submitted to God will surely defeat some evil. But, many Christians submitted to God and thinking, feeling and doing things His way will be much more powerful and defeat much more evil. Let’s allow God to have His way together and see the devil retreat.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Sally is really looking forward to going to heaven. And, she is just 10 years old.
Sally wants to know how it is that everyone will let God rule his heaven and not want things their own way. Her mother mentioned that everyone will recognize that God is completely good so that everyone will want to do things His way in heaven. Sally decided she wants to let God have his way right now because she believes the Bible says she is already in the kingdom of heaven. Sally, in her childhood innocence and exuberance, wants to bring heaven to earth. She wants to understand God so she can have heaven’s thoughts and heaven’s emotions and heaven’s behavior right now. |
Individuals, friendships, families, and marriages who now submit to God’s way while tempted to do otherwise will enter heaven more solidly predisposed to let God rule. Those who resisted doing things God’s way and fell into temptation to do what was only right in their own eyes will automatically let God have His way immediately when, at death, the spirit of a person is finally liberated from sin. So, why bother submitting more and more to God before death?
It is God’s heaven, and He is going to have His way there because everyone will want to be submissive to Him. But, not everyone will understand what God wants to the same degree or have the same level of joy that God is getting His way.
It is this way now. All Christians understand that God wants them to pray, and so we all pray to different degrees. At one extreme, some only pray when led to do so in church. But, some seek honest communication and fellowship with God throughout the day. Similarly, everyone will let God have his way in heaven, but enjoy it at different degrees.
Even though we will be happy no matter what, wouldn’t we want to go to heaven understanding at a deeper level why we are letting God have His way?
For example, when in heaven we naturally extend hospitality to redeemed strangers, we can do it “because God says so” or because we want to do it because we know it is a way that God’s love flows through us to bless others.
All of the 65 Togethers of Scripture are ways we can submit to God now and be better prepared for heaven. All of them will have us entering heaven at a higher level than if we did not do them, especially if we do not see them as rules but as submitting to God and acting the way He does.
A major consideration is that there will be places of service in heaven that will be given only to those who have proved under the harshest of environments that they will voluntarily let God have His way. These individuals and groups will be rewarded with positions of authority over others who did not adequately prove themselves submissive before death. Some will be mayors and some worship leaders, to name a few of the thousands of positions requiring a high level of submission to God and His ways.
It is God’s heaven, and He is going to have His way there because everyone will want to be submissive to Him. But, not everyone will understand what God wants to the same degree or have the same level of joy that God is getting His way.
It is this way now. All Christians understand that God wants them to pray, and so we all pray to different degrees. At one extreme, some only pray when led to do so in church. But, some seek honest communication and fellowship with God throughout the day. Similarly, everyone will let God have his way in heaven, but enjoy it at different degrees.
Even though we will be happy no matter what, wouldn’t we want to go to heaven understanding at a deeper level why we are letting God have His way?
For example, when in heaven we naturally extend hospitality to redeemed strangers, we can do it “because God says so” or because we want to do it because we know it is a way that God’s love flows through us to bless others.
All of the 65 Togethers of Scripture are ways we can submit to God now and be better prepared for heaven. All of them will have us entering heaven at a higher level than if we did not do them, especially if we do not see them as rules but as submitting to God and acting the way He does.
A major consideration is that there will be places of service in heaven that will be given only to those who have proved under the harshest of environments that they will voluntarily let God have His way. These individuals and groups will be rewarded with positions of authority over others who did not adequately prove themselves submissive before death. Some will be mayors and some worship leaders, to name a few of the thousands of positions requiring a high level of submission to God and His ways.
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels,
and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matt 16:27
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money,
in order to find out what they had gained with it.
The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”
“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied.
“Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter,
take charge of ten cities.”
The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.”
His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”
Luke 19:15-19
and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matt 16:27
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money,
in order to find out what they had gained with it.
The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”
“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied.
“Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter,
take charge of ten cities.”
The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.”
His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”
Luke 19:15-19
Quality of life in heaven will be tied to the assignment of service. Everyone will have proved his level of submission before death, and that level will determine the assignment he or she qualifies for in heaven. While each person in heaven will be content with where he or she ends up, that does not mean that everyone will have the same quality of heavenly life. Assignments will have different levels of experience.
A Christian who resisted letting God have the say in how he lived his life will still be completely happy, but with a less responsible job in heaven. With sin gone, he will not desire more than he has. His quality of life will be fine with him, but in comparison with those who became, say, mayors of towns, it will not have near the privileges. This may be actual or allegorical, but imagine that street sweepers are valued as much as mayors, but go to the Street Sweepers Convention at the throne of God every five years while the mayors go every six months.
This is not unlike what happens in a faithful Christian ministry organization. Everyone is as valuable as anyone else, but different responsibilities give different access to people, systems, privileges and benefits, not to mention wages. Because that is where the Lord has assigned him or her, the person delivering the mail to the various offices should be totally content with that job and pay level. Sin might prevent that here now, but not in heaven.
This assignment of service in heaven should not be hard to accept. If you owned a home improvement business and needed to hire handymen, you would hire those who would do the job the way you want it done. You would rate applicants on how much they would follow your wishes. Suppose it was your aim to have a company reputation of leaving the customer very satisfied and relating to customers in a friendly fashion. Would you hire a very skilled man who grumbled when he had to go back and make an adjustment to the work he had done? Or would you hire the one who would enjoy going back to see the customer once more?
We all should want everyone in our Christian Inner Circles to have as rich a life in heaven as possible. That is why we should want to bring all of our friends and family to joyfully let God have His way. To do this, we will help one another think more and more like God, respond emotionally more and more like God, and behave more and more as God wants.
Since we are all building our resumes for heaven, submission is very important. No employer keeps a worker who doesn’t follow established procedures and insists on his or her right to do things his or her own way. If out of grace the boss keeps someone like that on the job, perhaps because there is a family totally dependent upon that person’s earnings, the boss will not promote such an employee.
When we have a Christian friend or family member who does not care so much about what God wants but only to receive blessings from God, we must warn them. We can scold them, but isn’t it better to point them to heaven and show them that they are building a terrible resume. It would be far better to convince them that proving themselves submissive to God opens up increased quality of life after death that lasts forever.
Suppose we have a friend who spends so much time chasing after making money that he ignores the needs of his wife and children. Do we encourage him in his excessive monetary desires? Hopefully not. Instead, we will point out to him that he is failing to let God have his way by not fulfilling his family relationship responsibilities. Then, we can lend him a vision of heaven and how letting go of chasing the dollar will qualify him for so much more in heaven.
This kind of submissive-to-God living requires help from those other Christians who know us well. We all have desires that two or three Christians with Jesus can determine are detours from God’s plan. Since the stakes are eternal, we should not just stand by and see our Christian friends and family members throw away eternal blessings for temporary indulgences.
We can get started becoming more submissive to God by every month or two searching out in our friendships, families and marriages one thing we do our way and not God’s. And, we need to point out to our friends and family members something they do with us that is not God’s way at least every six months. As these things come up, we must help one another bring our thinking, feeling and behaving in line with God’s ways for this life and to best prepare for heaven.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
A Christian who resisted letting God have the say in how he lived his life will still be completely happy, but with a less responsible job in heaven. With sin gone, he will not desire more than he has. His quality of life will be fine with him, but in comparison with those who became, say, mayors of towns, it will not have near the privileges. This may be actual or allegorical, but imagine that street sweepers are valued as much as mayors, but go to the Street Sweepers Convention at the throne of God every five years while the mayors go every six months.
This is not unlike what happens in a faithful Christian ministry organization. Everyone is as valuable as anyone else, but different responsibilities give different access to people, systems, privileges and benefits, not to mention wages. Because that is where the Lord has assigned him or her, the person delivering the mail to the various offices should be totally content with that job and pay level. Sin might prevent that here now, but not in heaven.
This assignment of service in heaven should not be hard to accept. If you owned a home improvement business and needed to hire handymen, you would hire those who would do the job the way you want it done. You would rate applicants on how much they would follow your wishes. Suppose it was your aim to have a company reputation of leaving the customer very satisfied and relating to customers in a friendly fashion. Would you hire a very skilled man who grumbled when he had to go back and make an adjustment to the work he had done? Or would you hire the one who would enjoy going back to see the customer once more?
We all should want everyone in our Christian Inner Circles to have as rich a life in heaven as possible. That is why we should want to bring all of our friends and family to joyfully let God have His way. To do this, we will help one another think more and more like God, respond emotionally more and more like God, and behave more and more as God wants.
Since we are all building our resumes for heaven, submission is very important. No employer keeps a worker who doesn’t follow established procedures and insists on his or her right to do things his or her own way. If out of grace the boss keeps someone like that on the job, perhaps because there is a family totally dependent upon that person’s earnings, the boss will not promote such an employee.
When we have a Christian friend or family member who does not care so much about what God wants but only to receive blessings from God, we must warn them. We can scold them, but isn’t it better to point them to heaven and show them that they are building a terrible resume. It would be far better to convince them that proving themselves submissive to God opens up increased quality of life after death that lasts forever.
Suppose we have a friend who spends so much time chasing after making money that he ignores the needs of his wife and children. Do we encourage him in his excessive monetary desires? Hopefully not. Instead, we will point out to him that he is failing to let God have his way by not fulfilling his family relationship responsibilities. Then, we can lend him a vision of heaven and how letting go of chasing the dollar will qualify him for so much more in heaven.
This kind of submissive-to-God living requires help from those other Christians who know us well. We all have desires that two or three Christians with Jesus can determine are detours from God’s plan. Since the stakes are eternal, we should not just stand by and see our Christian friends and family members throw away eternal blessings for temporary indulgences.
We can get started becoming more submissive to God by every month or two searching out in our friendships, families and marriages one thing we do our way and not God’s. And, we need to point out to our friends and family members something they do with us that is not God’s way at least every six months. As these things come up, we must help one another bring our thinking, feeling and behaving in line with God’s ways for this life and to best prepare for heaven.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Because Jasmine and Natalie used their earthly friendship to let God rule as best they could in the situations they faced, they are ecstatic in heaven. Both entered heaven within 5 years of one another and found each other as soon as they could - something really easy where prayer is pure and easily answered.
What excites them so much is that they can follow the Lord’s wishes in heaven without the struggle they had before death. No telling Satan to get behind them. No uncertainty about what was the right thought or the right feeling or the right action. Natalie and Jasmine appreciate heaven and letting God have his way so much more than many others in heaven because they can remember the struggles - and the earthly victories. They have a greater appreciation for the privilege of being able to submit to God. It gives them much more joy. |
In heaven, whether or not we discovered this before death, the greatest joy will come in pleasing God. He will be blessed by our earlier submission when Satan and evil were free to tempt us to do otherwise.
Jesus is our Lord, and as God, He is to get our submission. The question, “What would Jesus do?” is the same as, “What would Jesus have us do?” Once we answer that question, we should love Him enough to let Jesus express Himself through us. It can give us great joy to know that we have given our Lord what He wants.
Sometimes it is hard to find joy in letting others have their way. Other times is it easy. Children find it unsatisfying to let their parents have their way. A child might resent having to stop whatever he or she is doing, but then realize that letting the parent hurry him or her got them to the movie on time. But, that same child might more easily find joy in letting Mom have her way on her birthday, wanting Mom to really enjoy herself.
This, of course, is just the way we should want to be toward God every day. His way is ultimately best for everything in life, not to just get to a movie on time. And, everyday should be His day, more important than a birthday. His joy should be our greatest joy.
Jesus is our Lord, and as God, He is to get our submission. The question, “What would Jesus do?” is the same as, “What would Jesus have us do?” Once we answer that question, we should love Him enough to let Jesus express Himself through us. It can give us great joy to know that we have given our Lord what He wants.
Sometimes it is hard to find joy in letting others have their way. Other times is it easy. Children find it unsatisfying to let their parents have their way. A child might resent having to stop whatever he or she is doing, but then realize that letting the parent hurry him or her got them to the movie on time. But, that same child might more easily find joy in letting Mom have her way on her birthday, wanting Mom to really enjoy herself.
This, of course, is just the way we should want to be toward God every day. His way is ultimately best for everything in life, not to just get to a movie on time. And, everyday should be His day, more important than a birthday. His joy should be our greatest joy.
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
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Note in the above passage the admonition to not be grieved because of sharing food and drink but find strength to do so because God will find joy that you did so. Just as a child finds joy in his mother’s joy, so we should help one another readjust our emotions to find our joy when God is joyful because of us.
Imagine a life forever in heaven where our joy comes from God’s joy in us. All of us will feel God’s satisfaction with us, and there will be no dissatisfaction because there will be no sin. We will all submit to how God wants things done and this will honor Him and be counted as worship. However, the magnitude of joy for each of us will be proportional to the depth of recognizing God’s joy. And, this will be developed best now in the environment of sin.
This life before death provides us with ample opportunities to give God His way rather than follow our own conflicting strong desires. Each victory to submit to God is to be powered not by fear of God’s wrath, but out of love to make Him joyful. Unfortunately, doing things God’s way is all too often done out of fear of His reprisal. But, John 14:21 could not be clearer that submission to God’s will is to be out of love for Him.
Imagine a life forever in heaven where our joy comes from God’s joy in us. All of us will feel God’s satisfaction with us, and there will be no dissatisfaction because there will be no sin. We will all submit to how God wants things done and this will honor Him and be counted as worship. However, the magnitude of joy for each of us will be proportional to the depth of recognizing God’s joy. And, this will be developed best now in the environment of sin.
This life before death provides us with ample opportunities to give God His way rather than follow our own conflicting strong desires. Each victory to submit to God is to be powered not by fear of God’s wrath, but out of love to make Him joyful. Unfortunately, doing things God’s way is all too often done out of fear of His reprisal. But, John 14:21 could not be clearer that submission to God’s will is to be out of love for Him.
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them,
he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:21
he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:21
It is difficult to see how we would find joy in doing things God’s way out of fear. But, out of love is a different story. Loving God by submitting to Him brings joy. Any submission that does not bring joy is probably not true, biblical submission.
Oh, what joy we will have in heaven where everyone will do the will of God. All of us will faithfully follow Jesus there. No sin will stop us. How wonderful that will be. So, let’s help one another now to love God and give Him joy by submitting to Him, to His way of thinking, to His way of feeling, and to His way of acting.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
Oh, what joy we will have in heaven where everyone will do the will of God. All of us will faithfully follow Jesus there. No sin will stop us. How wonderful that will be. So, let’s help one another now to love God and give Him joy by submitting to Him, to His way of thinking, to His way of feeling, and to His way of acting.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
Joe and Tyler are fishing on a lake on the New Earth. Heaven is great, especially now that it includes a purified earth and they have their new bodies. And the fish are biting.
All of a sudden Jesus is in the boat with them. He asks them, “Do you remember that day before you died when you both were fishing Turquoise Lake? You were trying to discover how I thought about each of your careers. And, you asked me to give you answers. Of course, I was in the boat with you because I am there whenever two or three keep Me in mind. And, I did guide your careers, as you know. Thank you for doing what the Father wanted you to do. Thank you for making Him the most important consideration. I felt close to you then, and forever we can have a tremendous relationship because of the bond developed in that old, rusty boat back then when you submitted your ways for God’s ways. |
Just as parents appreciate children who submit to their rules, so God appreciates each of us differently to the degree we let Him have His way. He loves us all unconditionally and equally. But, that does not mean He appreciates us all the same. Certainly, those who cared less about how God wanted them to think, feel and act will not have the same favor with Jesus in heaven.
If some are appreciated by Jesus less in heaven, that will not lead to disappointment or unhappiness. Each of us will have developed a level of valuing God as shown by the degree of submissiveness we were willing to exhibit in our thinking, feeling, and acting. With sin and pride gone in heaven, each of us will be honest with ourselves as to how much appreciation by God is appropriate.
In school we did not resent someone else getting a better grade than we did if they put in better work than we did. We did not resent the valedictorian at graduation. We did not resent the honor given the football team after a winning season. We knew and accepted the higher level of honor given those other students. If we can avoid being resentful that others get more honor now when sin still lives in us, we will be able to do more so in heaven where no selfish thoughts survive.
So, submission to God now yields appreciation by Him in heaven forever.
It also yields trust. God will trust heaven’s citizens commensurate with their having put His ways first above their own. By letting God have His way, we earn His trust. That will result in the assignments He can give us in heaven. Submission to God now yields His trust and higher responsibilities in heaven.
And, we have already seen that God will have more joy in us to the extent that we thought, felt, and acted like He wanted. The greater His joy in each of us will be something we cherish in heaven.
So, our relationship with God in heaven because of submission will determine the quantity and quality of appreciation, trust, assignments, and joy of that relationship. Understanding this should make us all want to get our Christian Inner Circles much more active in seeing that everyone grows in their ability to let God have His way through submission.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Sovereign Lord, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to submit to You together. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in this way in our lives.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus Who was always in submission to Your will. Help us to help one another let you have Your way in all that we do by encouraging each other to change our thoughts, feelings and actions to Your way of thinking, feeling and acting.
May our lives worship You more because we hold You in high esteem and submit to Your ways as You have communicated them in the Bible. Help all of us in our Christian Inner Circles to expand church worship to lifestyle worship all week long.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by going Your way about things rather than the evil courses he suggests to us in so many subtle ways. Help us to find great satisfaction in defeating Satan’s strategy for us to leave Your path and sin.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing to more completely submit to You, as that will be the only life in heaven. Help us help one another to realize that we are already in the kingdom of heaven and should be constantly submitting to You. Help us urge each other to ask You what You want done and how You want us to do it. Help us learn how to live under Your sovereignty. We need to see the kingdom of heaven through Your eyes.
If some are appreciated by Jesus less in heaven, that will not lead to disappointment or unhappiness. Each of us will have developed a level of valuing God as shown by the degree of submissiveness we were willing to exhibit in our thinking, feeling, and acting. With sin and pride gone in heaven, each of us will be honest with ourselves as to how much appreciation by God is appropriate.
In school we did not resent someone else getting a better grade than we did if they put in better work than we did. We did not resent the valedictorian at graduation. We did not resent the honor given the football team after a winning season. We knew and accepted the higher level of honor given those other students. If we can avoid being resentful that others get more honor now when sin still lives in us, we will be able to do more so in heaven where no selfish thoughts survive.
So, submission to God now yields appreciation by Him in heaven forever.
It also yields trust. God will trust heaven’s citizens commensurate with their having put His ways first above their own. By letting God have His way, we earn His trust. That will result in the assignments He can give us in heaven. Submission to God now yields His trust and higher responsibilities in heaven.
And, we have already seen that God will have more joy in us to the extent that we thought, felt, and acted like He wanted. The greater His joy in each of us will be something we cherish in heaven.
So, our relationship with God in heaven because of submission will determine the quantity and quality of appreciation, trust, assignments, and joy of that relationship. Understanding this should make us all want to get our Christian Inner Circles much more active in seeing that everyone grows in their ability to let God have His way through submission.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Sovereign Lord, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to submit to You together. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in this way in our lives.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus Who was always in submission to Your will. Help us to help one another let you have Your way in all that we do by encouraging each other to change our thoughts, feelings and actions to Your way of thinking, feeling and acting.
May our lives worship You more because we hold You in high esteem and submit to Your ways as You have communicated them in the Bible. Help all of us in our Christian Inner Circles to expand church worship to lifestyle worship all week long.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by going Your way about things rather than the evil courses he suggests to us in so many subtle ways. Help us to find great satisfaction in defeating Satan’s strategy for us to leave Your path and sin.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing to more completely submit to You, as that will be the only life in heaven. Help us help one another to realize that we are already in the kingdom of heaven and should be constantly submitting to You. Help us urge each other to ask You what You want done and how You want us to do it. Help us learn how to live under Your sovereignty. We need to see the kingdom of heaven through Your eyes.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.