By Guest Author, Kayla White
All creation submits to God, content to follow His purpose for their lives, even to the point of death. Submission is part of waiting on God.
Honey bees provide an example of submission. Each type of bee submits to their God-given purposes by serving in specific ways in the hive. A drone does not have a stinger, has large eyes seemingly to find the queen, and dies after mating. Drones are typically dragged out of the hive without resistance by the females in the fall to die in the cold, apparently to conserve honey. Females also die in service in defending the hive by stinging any threats. Their example of submission glorifies God and produces well-ordered, efficient, plant-pollinating and honey-making systems that bless us in many ways; I cannot help but marvel at its miraculous design. They provide an example to us to submit to what God called us to do, testing for confirmation with scripture and prayer. May we have eyes to see our works of service, whether they seems little or impossible. He knows best how we can glorify Him.
” ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God.” James 4:6-7
Creation points us to Christ and His submission to the Father. Jesus came down from heaven, not to His own will, but to do the Father’s will. He was obedient even to the point of death on the cross to redeem sinners.
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 1:8
” ‘For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.’ ” John 6:38
True life and fulfillment are found in submission to God and His ways. Christ spoke of His submission as His food.
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’ ” John 4:34
“But he answered, ‘It is written, ” ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” ‘ ” Matthew 4:4
Sometimes submission requires great sacrifice, but we have Jesus’ promise of eternal life in exchange in Matthew 10:39:
” ‘…Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’ ” Matthew 10:39
