and i said, ‘what shall i do, Lord?’ and the Lord said to me, ‘rise, and go into damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ and since i could not see because of the brightness of that light, i was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into damascus. [acts 22:10-11]
immediate submission.
paul, blind and humbled, was led by the hand to damascus. but this was not by force or begrudgingly. his immediate response to the voice of Jesus was, ‘what shall i do, Lord?’ his obedience showed the faith that he had received. acknowledging Jesus as the true Messiah, now that he had seen and heard Jesus’ glory, paul was ready to submit and obey, even if it meant asking for the help of his companions.
many of us experienced a slower road of submission to Christ. i knew the name of Jesus long before i bowed my heart to him. i had heard his voice for many years before i had a heart that was ready to obey. i even called him Lord with my lips through many stages of my life before i actually served him as Lord. I hadn’t quite seen his true beauty. i didn’t quite understand the voice who spoke.
oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! [deut 5:29]
moses speaks these words of God over the people of israel in response to their longing to hear the words of the Lord. God desires a heart of submission so that he can give us eternal blessing!
our obedience to Christ proceeds from a heart of faith. where are you at on your road to submission? do you claim the name of Christ but have yet to bow your knee in submission? is there any area of life where you still have one foot in submission to the world or to your flesh?
we can look here at paul for this submission, but ultimately, we can look to Jesus himself. his obedience to the Father was perfect and complete.
and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [phil 2:8]
Father, give us the heart of your Son! give us joyful submission and a delight to obey your word. may we not only call Jesus Lord, but follow his every word, that you might be glorified in us. amen.
~ arwen eastman