Valuing Others
How do you view other people?
Verse of the Day
‘And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’
Today’s Devotional
As we continue to look at the discipline of submission, let’s continue to look at what Richard Foster has to teach us:
“The biblical teaching on submission focuses primarily on the spirit with which we view other people. Scripture does not attempt to set forth a series of hierarchical relationships but to communicate to us an inner attitude of mutual subordination.
Outwardly we can do what people ask and inwardly be in rebellion against them. This concern for a spirit of consideration toward others pervades the entire New Testament. The old covenant stipulated that we must not murder. Jesus, however, stressed that the real issue was the inner spirit of murder with which we view people. In the matter of submission the same is true; the real issue is the spirit of consideration and respect we have for each other.
In submission we are at last free to value other people. Their dreams and plans become important to us. We have entered into a new, wonderful, glorious freedom—the freedom to give up our own rights for the good of others. For the first time we can love people unconditionally. We have given up the right to demand that they return our love. No longer do we feel that we have to be treated in a certain way. We rejoice in their successes. We feel genuine sorrow in their failures. It is of little consequence that our plans are frustrated if their plans succeed. We discover that it is far better to serve our neighbor than to have our own way.”
What would it look like to have a spirit of consideration and respect for others? For me, I have to start small. In small ways, submission might look like:
- Being on time
- Not interrupting when someone is speaking
- Doing what I said I would do
- Not giving my opinion unless I’m asked
- Allowing people the freedom to have an opinion that differs from mine without judgment.
I notice that today’s verse calls me to submit to others out of reverence for Christ. Jesus lived His whole life in the spirit of submission. Out of reverence for His great sacrifice on my behalf, I can learn to submit to you, simply because He asked me to. Do we revere Christ enough to show that reverence by submitting to others? The only way I know to do this is to continually remind myself of all that Jesus has done for me, and to then ask for help to live in a way that honors Him.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What would an attitude of mutual subordination look like in your life?
How have you submitted to someone in action but not in attitude?
How much do you value other people? Is their value in your life based on what they do for you?
What would it look like for you to live with a spirit of consideration and respect for others?
How can you show Jesus your reverence today?