Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Two-hundred and ninety-eight pounds of raw muscle compressed his head against the mat like a nut trapped in the jaws of a nutcracker. A repulsive combination of sweat and fear seeped from every pour as 1984 semi-pro wrestler Jimmy “the Buckle” Broheem found himself at the mercy of a stronger, faster, heavier opponent. These career-ending words spoken by his superior echoed through his mind for sleepless nights to come: submit!!
…
Tears pooled at the base of bloodshot eyes. The stinging sensation slowly spread from her eye around to her left ear. Lindy learned long ago not to let tears fall. This would only make him more angry. She had done enough to cause him to snap. She knew better than to call him from his sports channel before the table was properly set. As she stood, head hanging like a dying oak tree, she wondered, “How did I get here?” Before a spark of hope or resistance could ignite, the well-meaning words of her deceased father rang louder than the ringing in her left ear: submit.
…
In our culture, the word submit has found place in various contexts. In the two fictional depictions above, the word submit seems obviously connected to one person imposing their might and strength over the other in a way to control and subdue. Choice, respect, and health seem to be conspicuously absent, leaving one person in control and the other suffering under abusive rule.
Experiences such as these and the understanding that they give us leave us hesitant to submit in the situations that God asks us to. In Scripture, we see a command to submit in the following areas:*
believers are to submit to one another (1 Colossians 16:16; Ephesians 5:21)
in that broader framework, wives are to submit to husbands (Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1, 5)
the young are to submit to the old (1 Peter 5:5)
slaves are to submit to masters (Ephesians 6:5; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18 - for an understanding of slavery from the New Testament perspective and context, see one step: James 1.1 and one step: Romans 6.2)
Christ-followers are to submit to the government (Romans 13:1)
Each of these have benefits and promises from God, but James asks us to submit to God for very good reason: as a remedy to pride and discord and a formula for victory over the devil.* Thus, understanding the true definition of submission proves key to living the Christian life.
Scripturally, submission involves yielding to the perspective or position of another.* It’s application is not just for some to implement, thus allowing others to rule. It is basic to Christian practice for every believer; all must live under God in a posture of submission.* What does this mean?
It means ordering our lives under God’s authority and will.* Submission to God is the posture of true humility.*
Interestingly, when the word submit is misused to control and abuse, the victim lives in oppression, unable to function as God intended. Contrast, when we submit to God, He gives us grace: what we need to live the flourishing life He is calling us to (see verse 6).*
We must not allow the misuse of the word submit to rob us of a life of humility before the Lord characterized by the gift of grace that we need to resist the devil and send him running the other direction. Submission to the authority and will of the Lord is necessary for us to then have authority. In this, the enemy no longer has any true power over us.*
Imagine that a person walks up to your car window, taps on the glass, and tells you to leave the parking lot you are attempting to park in. I can tell you, if that happened to me, I would turn away, pretend they were not there, and find a spot. Now imagine that this same person walks up to your car window, but now they have a uniform on with the insignia of your town on their shoulder. This badge indicates their submission to a higher authority, thus giving them authority. Now, not leaving has consequences.
The enemy is trying to park in your life. The only way to get him to leave is to submit your life to the highest power: God.
Today, take a step.***
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to render your life to the authority and will of God… in every area. Perhaps today God wants you to submit to Him. Maybe today God wants you to exit or put up boundaries in an unhealthy relationship that has oppressed you through the misuse of the idea or word submit. Perhaps today God wants you to resist the enemy and experience victory.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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***If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out for help. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 and wants to help you today. Call 1-800-799-7233.
*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 193–194). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 255–256). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:7–10). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 241–243). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 228–229). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, pp. 152–153). Word, Incorporated.