LEARNIG TO SUBMIT TO GOD

In observing the world around you, you are evidently aware that there are many things that might draw people away or keep them from submitting to God. Yet, the Bible tells us: “ Submit” yourself to God—”Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4: 7-8). In our individual effort to submit to God: It could prove helpful to be mindful of the particular things “that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”(Hebrews 12:1)–And pray earnestly to God for his help (1 John 5:14-15).         

My writing this may be reminding you of things you already know. But because we are tempted and tried by the devil throughout our lives (2 Peter 4:12-13; James 4:7); the Holy Spirit, whom God gives us reminds and strengthens us according to the Word of God regarding submitting to God (John 14:15-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

The Apostle Peter wrote reminders to the Church: “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body” (2 Peter 1:12-13). “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:1-2).

The Apostle Paul wrote: “Further, my brothers and sisters, “! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1).

AS A “SAFEGUARD” THE BIBLE REMINDS US OF THINGS THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM SUBMITTING TO GOD

The following are some things that the Bible teaches and reminds us of concerning what may keep you from submitting fully to God:

• Disregarding what God Said
• Having desire for something ungodly
• Listening to the devil or his agent

REMINDER OF ADAM AND EVE. In the past I have I have written to remind readers how Adam and Eve failed to submit to God because of the things mentioned above. They were the first people to do these things; and their actions provide a basic understand of how people fail to submit to God. For a more detail understanding you may read chapter 3 of Genesis in the Bible. However, this lesson is repeated and reinforced with different characters in other part of the Bible for our learning.

REMINDER OF SAMSON. As  you know Samson and all people are descendants of Adam and Eve. I use this writing  as another “safeguard,” reminding or informing readers about Samson, who was a Nazirite Judge of Israel, but fail to submit to God.  

Before he was born, God told Samson’s Israelite mother: “You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines… the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’” (Judges 13:5-7).

However, when Samson was grown, he desired to have relationships with ungodly Philistine women. When he saw a Philistine woman he wanted to marry, he told his parents, “ get her for me as my wife.”  They replied: “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” Nevertheless, Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (Judges 14:1-3).

Later, because of troubles that occurred between Samson and the Philistines involving his wife, his wife was killed by the Philistines. Samson used the immense strength God gave him  aa a Nazirite defender  of Israel  (which he once used to kill a roaring lion) to take revenge and “killed a thousand men.” (Judges 15).

Some time later Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah. The Philistine coaxed Delilah with money to find out the secret of Samson’s great strength. She nagged Samson for days, accusing him of not loving her  and not telling her his secret. Tired of her nagging, Samson relented. So he told her everything: “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” When Delilah realized he had told her everything, she sent for the rulers of the Philistines.

Then putting Samson to sleep on her lap, Delilah had some Philistine to shave his hair off. In his weaken state, the Philistines subdued him and gouged out his eyes. They shackled him and set him to grinding corn in a prison. 

When the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands,” they brought Samson before the Philistine people in the temple Dagon to make sport of him. But God had caused Samson’s hair to grow again. And Samson had the servant leading him to the temple to place his hand on the two central pillars that supported the temple, About three thousand people had gathered to watch him perform. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”  And “Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.” (Judges 16).

THE BIBLE TEACHES AND REMIND US TO OBSERVE HOW JESUS SUBMITTED TO GOD THE FATHER.

Jesus is shown in the Bible as our perfect example of submitting to God the Father.: He always did what pleased the Father. When he was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread after the Lord had fasted forty days and nights, he quoted the words of God: “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).

When Jesus was faced with suffering and dying on a cross for the sins of the world, he prayed: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus died on the cross, even though people used by the devil tempted saying, “ save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40).

In your submission to God, “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11 NIV).