Reconciliation & Submission
Key Verse
“And be subject to one another in the fear of the Christ.”
– Ephesians 5:21
Basic Biblical Understanding
Prior to reading this article, first read the article entitled “Reconciliation.” That article shares the foundational principles for biblical reconciliation. This article focuses on submission as an aspect of reconciliation.
As stated in the previous article, the biblical path of reconciliation is paved through prayer and humble acts of submission. What are humble acts of submission and why is submission crucial to reconciliation?
Humble acts of submission refer to a willingness to submit to whatever God wants to do in that situation. It may be submitting your mind, your heart, your attitude, your time, your pain, your comfort, your rights, or anything else. Consider several statements of submission:
It’s not my will but God’s will. Ultimately, it’s not about what we want, but what God wants. All too often, our will is selfishly aligned with what’s convenient, easy, or comfortable. God’s will may be very different. Are we willing to humbly submit to God’s will?
It’s not my way but God’s way. You might want to tell off a person. You might want to act first and ask forgiveness later. Doing things your way is often what brought division in the first place. Are you willing to lay aside your way and humbly submit to God?
It’s not my words but God’s words. It takes the restraining grace of God NOT to say everything you may want to say when someone has hurt you. In your flesh, you want to defend yourself, point out their inconsistencies, and tell them why they’re wrong. But when you humbly submit to God, He’ll often lead you to remain silent, stay calm, or say little. Listen to what Solomon says…
Proverbs 29:11, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
Proverbs 10:19, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”
Proverbs 12:16, “A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.”
Proverbs 12:18, “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”
Proverbs 13:3, “Those who control their tongue will have long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.”
Proverbs 18:13, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.”
Biblical reconciliation requires us to submit to God. God uses our submission to bring healing.
Verses (ask God to to show you how they apply to your life)
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,”
– 1 Peter 5:6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
– Proverbs 3:5–6
Helpful Questions and Application
Ask God, “How are You prompting me to submit?” Write down what God says, submit it before Him in prayer, and ask Him for His grace to obey.
When God prompts you to speak, He will give you the grace to say things well. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak “the truth in love...” Colossians 4:6 tells us to “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Ask God, “What do you want me to say?” Write it down and share it as He leads.
Additional Resources
Scripture references: Ephesians 5; James 4:7; Romans 8:7
WordTruth Article: ”Forgiveness Benefits and Lack of Forgiveness Consequences”