Submission= Becoming like the Lamb

The submission chapter was perhaps one of my favorite chapters. Foster's depiction of submission reminded me a lot of Philippians 2. This verse has been pretty impactful for me in the last year (we also discussed it a lot on Barney floats...and if I'm honest it might be a popular theme again). The overall passage is stating: You must imitate Christ and take on the very character of God by becoming a servant. By submitting to God and others we are becoming much more of who we were created to be. Obviously this is easier said then done, but by looking at Christ as the example of submission it reminds me that if our Almighty King finds submission & servanthood to be of the upmost importance, than its worth it for me (even if I will most often fall short).

This chapter also reminded me a lot of where I was last year at this time. We were reading the Revelation study and the one concept that impacted my whole season was viewing Christ as the Lamb and realizing there is power in becoming like the sacrificial servant Lamb. In Revelation 5, John is waiting for the Lion to appear to open the scroll, and he turns and finds a little lamb as if slain opening the scroll. He was the only one able to open it, and the elders and living creatures fell down and worshiped Him (The lamb is Christ). Through the reading, the passage, and the admin retreat we talked about how the honest power was not found in the dominate Lion, but in the sacrificial lamb. "The Lamb wins by being slaughtered. The Lamb overcomes by being sacrificed, by sacrificing himself!" "The secret of history, which no one could have discovered on his or her own, is that the Lion gets to the throne by being the Lamb. The Lion wins by being slaughtered"(Revelation: DOTE by Johnson, p.156-157).

So whats my point?: The Lord keeps revealing to me (and to us) that there is something powerful, holy, and supremely spiritual about being submissive, denying self, pursuing others interests, sacrificing for one another, suffering for the kingdom and becoming a sacrifice. "The Lion wins by being slaughtered"! I am convinced that we claim more of the Kingdom's power and prevalence on earth when we become like lambs to the slaughter. Victory comes not in the form of dominate followers, but sacrificial ones.

I am completely convinced that there is no coincidence that this theme is being taught again at the exact same time as last year. As Foster says "Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all. Power is discovered in submission" (p.115). God is teaching us how to lead, by submitting, becoming a servant, and being sacrificial.

Wow...big lesson, but a good place to be! Lord, may we follow your lead and become the least, to serve others, and to submit to your will and direction in our lives. Let us live out, proclaim, and rejoice in the restoration and freedom given out of your own sacrifice on the cross! Let us follow in your foot steps, embrace sacrifice, and become lambs. Love you, Amen!