This “one-another” is a really tough one for me. Sometimes I think I’m generally being submissive, but then I get in a hurry to get somewhere and I believe that it’s my God-ordained right to be in my lane going fast and that everyone needs to get out of my way. Maybe it doesn’t count if you know you will never see these people again?? However, you can’t be guaranteed of that. Years ago I was on I-440, running late for a meeting on West End, and I was on the tail of the car in front of me “urging” it to go on (you know what I’m talking about), only to find out that the person in the car in front of me was who I would be meeting with. True story—I’m not kidding! And you know what she said to me when I arrived, just behind her? “You were in kind of a hurry, weren’t you?” She had noticed it was me. Boy was I ever embarrassed!!!
I’m really trying to do better. I will let a car merge in front of me, especially if I see an exit or lane change coming up and think they might need to get off. But don’t you just hate it when there’s a lane closure and someone stays in the lane that’s closed until the last minute and then tries to scoot in in front of you? I used to be that person, but not anymore, so I am honestly trying to do better.
Perhaps the word “yield” is easier for us to consider. Maybe that’s because we are so used to those road signs. We know we are supposed to submit to God, and we probably understand that the Bible tells us to submit to authority, but why submit to anyone else? As believers, it should make sense to love one another, forgive one another, be kind to one another, encourage one another, and serve one another. But why submit? Perhaps submission is rooted in some of the other “One Another’s,” such as or “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5) or “Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10) or “In humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
Because of my shortcomings, I really needed to dig into this command, and what I learned is that it comes from the fact that as believers, we are all one body, one team. The body, or team, works more effectively if every part–or every person–has respect for each other. We are to imitate Christ by being selfless. We should think of others first, and not be self-seeking. In fact, can you imagine just how wonderful life would be if we were to all treat each other– not stopping with the Golden Rule treating others as we would like to be treated—rather, in humility, considering others better than ourselves? I believe that Heaven will be like this, and who wouldn’t want a little Heaven on earth?
Any why? Simply because God has commanded it. Once we surrender ourselves to Jesus, then we do this out of reverence for Christ and a desire to be obedient. So, let’s encourage one another in this very important endeavor of submitting, or yielding, to each other.
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21)
In Christ,
Judy
judycline 