The Difference between Obedience and Submission
Obedience is the natural reaction to authority. Obedience can come quick and easy for those who are afraid and fearful of an authoritative figure. Fear can induce obedience. This is not the way of God, for he is love. This type of obedience is not his desire for us. He wants the kind that comes from submission. To be in submission is to be in agreement with the Father, doing his will and obeying his commands. It is important to know that there is a big difference between obedience and submission.
Obedience deals with outward actions while submission deals with the heart. Submission requires a mature understanding of God’s nature in order to fully appreciate the beauty of his directives as well as his requests. When there is submission to God, obedience is the natural outflow of that relationship.
King David had a mature understanding of God’s nature and therefore he was one of the few who rejoiced and declared his love for God’s laws, precepts and statutes. David cried out, “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight” (Psalm 119: 35). It was unusual for someone to say that. The carnal mind shudders at the thought of being limited by a set of rules. This is a common refrain in many circles, especially in the modern world, where many find it hard to obey God. David was different, though, for he had an insight when it comes to obeying the will of the Almighty. Many times we refuse to obey God because we are inconvenienced by his commands. If we do not have a clear understanding of God’s nature and God’s ultimate purpose it will be hard for us to obey and submit. We should be like David who saw the big picture and wrote a Psalm:
Blessed is the man … who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house… (Psalm 112: 1-3).
We pray that we are like David but many times we feel we are not. Don’t despair there is good news. Jesus will transform us. It is God who will create in us a heart and mind that is willing to submit. Jesus will bring us to our “eureka moment” when we will exclaim, Aha! I got it: I know why I should submit and I do not have to struggle with it. There is no better illustration than the radical transformation of Peter after Jesus realigned his will to his heart.
After the crucifixion, Peter left his ministry and primary calling. He decided to go back to his old ways. Jesus came to pay him a visit. Jesus was on the edge of the sea, he was patiently observing Peter as he frantically tried to catch fish but to no avail. Jesus signalled to Peter, James, and John to come ashore. Peter could not wait; he dove into the water and swam back to where Jesus was standing.
Peter fully understood Jesus’ authority so he jumped right into the freezing water. Jesus knew that he could depend on Peter’s knee-jerk reaction, as always. Peter was always the first to speak, the first to make bold declarations, the first to criticize and the first to attack. Peter was obedient but Jesus wanted to bring him to a higher plane. Jesus saw what was coming and he wanted Peter to be submitted to his will and not just become a willing drone, a mindless working bee. And so Jesus fired the first salvo and he looked into Simon Peter’s eyes and said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (John 21:15).
You could almost feel the electricity in the air. This was the first time that Jesus was so tender to the man he called the rock. Surely, he is no longer treating Peter as a mere soldier; he was determined to transform him into something much better.
Peter could only offer a lame reply, and you can barely hear what he said. Parang nahihiya pa si Pedro when he said, “Yes Lord …. you know that I love you.” Then Jesus pressed in, knowing that Peter will have to lead a ragtag team of disciples – to usher in God’s kingdom in a cynical and hostile world. You could almost feel Jesus coming in closer, performing a spiritual surgery in the heart and mind of Peter.
We should be reminded that Peter was never the same again after his fall from grace. I believe that Peter contemplated suicide just like Judas. This is a typical reaction of someone who has experienced great victory and made a boast of one’s achievements before being crushed by humiliating defeat. Once again Jesus asked Peter if he is more important to him than anything else in this world. I like the Basic English translation for the second question, wherein Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, have you any love for me?”(John 21:16). And Peter gave the same answer. Jesus was not done with him yet.
Peter did not realize that boot camp was over. It is time to turn the planet upside down. Jesus was making the final preparations. He will not dare launch his little ones into a world that can easily gobble them up. Jesus had to prepare their hearts. Obedience and submission is the key. The Spirit of God was primed for the final salvo; he was determined to “conform” Simon into the likeness of the Son of God. To be conformed is to be in agreement.
Jesus was face-to-face with Peter and looking straight through him, he asked Peter for the third time, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” You could almost feel Peter’s heart break. He had flashbacks, terrible flashbacks. His humiliation in front of the servant girl came like painful jolts. The insignificant and frail servant girl exposed Peter’s cowardice and weak character. The memory was still fresh in his mind. The whole world laughed at him that night. Satan, the one who asked permission to sift him like wheat, was laughing his heart out – Peter was a broken man after he denied Jesus three times.
Peter did not give a straight answer this time. In frustration and probably on the verge of tears, Peter said, “Lord you know all things…” (John 21:17). I believe there was a pause. The chill of the morning breeze hung uneasily between the two men. Peter was given time to absorb the significance of the three questions, but Peter’s whole being was flooded with emotions. It was bad enough that the world did not believe in him, yet it was more devastating to know that Jesus was having second thoughts regarding Peter’s commitment and devotion. The Apostle John witnessed the event, and he wrote that Peter was hurt when Jesus asked him the third time (John 21:17).
Peter had no idea that the spiritual operation was about to be concluded. The pain that he felt was the effect of God’s expert healing. Something was taken out from him that day. He was given a new mind and heart. Jesus had to make sure that from that day forward, Peter will not only be obedient, he must also be submitted. Jesus allowed Peter to see the big picture. He allowed Peter to understand the reason why he should obey. It must not be borne out of mere obedience – a knee-jerk response to authority. It must come from a will that is submitted to God.
It is also important to point out that God established a “love contract” with Peter and his team. Jesus did not desire that Peter and his team should be coerced into obedience. So he made it clear to the first group of Christians – and to His leaders: Peter, James, and John – that they will obey not because they are forced but because they are fully submitted. And they are submitted because they are in a love relationship with the LORD.
May 7th, 2010 at 8:01 am
AMEN…GREAT MESSAGE!