Submit and Resist

How many times do we get this backwards? We resist God and submit to the devil. 

To submit is to get in military order, to obey, to submit to one’s control, to yield. God is KING. But He gives us the choice whether we come under His authority and His command. We don’t have to—He’ll let us control. But everything will be completely out of order. 

To resist is to set oneself against, to oppose, withstand. We have to oppose Satan and his plan. This is an active duty. It may be as simple as saying, “No!” But it may be as involved as going into a season of prayer and fasting and quoting scripture out loud (giving the Spirit a sword to wield). 

When we take control, we are submitting to the enemy and resisting God. Stop and think about it. When YOU want control, you are resisting God—and submitting to the devil, who is the ultimate resister of God. Chaos will reign. But when we come under God’s authority and fight the enemy, we draw near to God and He races to us—like a magnet being attracted to metal. The battle may still rage, but we know we are protected and loved. We know God is in control and He is a fierce Warrior…and a benevolent King. He will come to you. He will guard and protect you. 

We have a choice. There WILL be submission—either to God or the enemy. There’s no middle ground. And there WILL be resisting. We just have a choice whom we’ll resist. It’s bigger than just order or chaos. It’s a matter of allegiance.  

Goodness

When someone is a bully or is hateful—or just plain MEAN—don’t we want God to send fire from heaven to consume them? Or at the very least, pack them off to Siberia where they can’t touch us any more?!? I may be more tolerant if it happens to me than if it happens to someone close to me. I can become a mama bear when you hurt someone I love!

There’s a verse that won’t leave my mind—it’s been rolling around in there for days.  Romans 2:4 says,  “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” It’s God’s GOODNESS that causes people to repent. I believe most people expect God’s wrath. So what is their reaction when God moves in with goodness and kindness? It stuns them. They’re faced with a loving God who offers repentance. And they have a choice to make. 

I want to be like that, don’t you??  God tells us to “love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 is pretty straightforward, isn’t it? But it’s not what our flesh wants to do…at all. It’s only by the Spirit of God that we can be good—goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. We CAN’T offer true goodness on our own. So maybe God’s goodness, by His Spirit, comes through us!

The bottom line is this: do we want people to find Jesus? Do we want to see hearts repent? Do we want lives completely changed? Families changed? Churches changed? Towns changed? Then offer God’s goodness when you’re wronged…it’s what leads to repentance.