Let’s next turn to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christian church in Rome to dwell deeper into the ingredients that make up the secret sauce of the submissive leader.
We are living in precarious times. We’ve talked about the darkness of this present age and the significance of putting on the full armor of God as we start each day.
Many years ago, I memorized Romans 12:1-2. Those two verses can be extremely valuable to all followers of Christ as they consider the spiritual battle before them:
“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy; to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Those are powerful words worth memorizing, folks.
Notice Paul is urging those going through persecution in Rome to surrender and submit to God. After all, we have been saved by grace, not by our works.
He does not necessarily expect us to give up our life for the cause of Christ! He does expect us to be a living sacrifice, doing all we can possibly do to please Him and further proclaim the Gospel through words and deeds.
This is our spiritual act of worship.
We are instructed to no longer follow the pattern of this present world, but to simply renew our minds.
That way, we can follow the Holy Spirit as He guides us through the circumstances of life, remaining faithful to our Father in Heaven. I know the path He has planned for me and, yes, there will be more trials that will certainly strengthen my faith for whatever He has planned for me moving forward.
Fellow Christians, I know God is dealing with you in a similar fashion, and He has a wonderful plan and purpose for your lives.
Please join me in the act of submissive leadership honoring our Creator this very day. Humbly come to Him and ask Him to show you the narrow path He has laid out for you.
Let me close this discussion with the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon from one of his many archived sermons given in London in 1888:
“The practical outcome of all this, to every Christian, should be just this, ‘If it be so, that all things in my life and ordered of God, even to the hairs of my head, then let me learn submission; let me bow before the Supreme Will which ought to have its way.’ Though it cost me many a tear, and many a pang, yet will I never be content until I can say, ‘Father, thy will be done.’”
When I heard this quote in a recent sermon, I knew these words needed to be added — to be included for your benefit.
Hopefully, Spurgeon’s words, which I trust came to him through the Holy Spirit, will fan the flame of faith in your heart.
I urge you to seriously consider becoming a submissive leader constantly allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life for His glorious purpose.
The submissive leader must place Christ first!