Agreement is easy....submission is hard

With resurrection services in the process of being observed in many churches, it marks the high point of the Christian belief system that recognizes the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Willingly submitting to the iron will of the Father was something Christ did not want to do, but ultimately agreed to do.

“Not My will, but Thine be done” was the response by Christ to be the sacrificial Lamb to God’s plan of redemption. Those that don’t believe Jesus could have put a stop to it fail to understand what true submission really is and what free will is about.http://women4truth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Embracing-the-S-Word-Kristen-McLaren.pdf

The apostle Peter was ready to use his sword to possibly thwart the Temple Guard’s attempt to arrest Jesus. Christ informed Peter that if He wanted to be rescued, He could have appealed to the Father who would have dispatched 12 legions of angels. It would be enough firepower to end the experiment on Earth without question. If one angel could slay 80,000 Assyrian soldiers without breaking a sweat, imagine what around 60,000 angels could do?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080124122934AALu56j

The example of Christ demonstrates what true submission really is; doing something you don’t want to do. There are much more situations where agreement is exercised by the individual because they really want to do the task laid before them. It’s nice to be obedient, but it’s more difficult when you really don’t want to perform the task requested or needed.

Has anyone cleaned out the cat box lately?

Speculation regarding the reason for Jesus asking God to see if that “cup of poison” could be removed is open to theological debate. It’s not that Christ feared death or the suffering associated with his brutal treatment or the enduring insults. The separation from the Father for the first time in eternity probably terrified Jesus far beyond any other thing. This separation bore the heaviest burden to Jesus’ agony.

Jesus did not want to do it, but there was no other way.

The same “cross to bear” is something any Christian believer can expect or anticipate doing. When Christ declared, “pick up your cross and follow Me”, it was a warning of the cost necessary to walk that path. A true sacrifice typically involves doing something you really don’t want to do, and that embarks into the realm of submission. A true sacrifice has great value to the one doing the sacrificing.http://oldarchive.godspy.com/meditations/Deny-yourself-pick-up-your-cross-and-follow-Me-Meditation-by-Pope-John-Paul-II.cfm.html

Many can agree to do many tasks in ministry, however the majority involves things that the person either enjoys doing or does not have a high personal cost invested. It is nice to be obedient to do these things, but it is more accurate to classify them as being in agreement.
Some have the gift of music either in voice or playing an instrument. Their fulfillment is realized by singing or playing and it usually is something the singer or player enjoys doing. This is a splendid example of being in agreement with what God perhaps desires for the individual.

There are some with the gift of singing or playing that really do not want to sing or play. This person would rather not be up there in front, perhaps detesting the attention or the person may have stage fright. However, the person knows God has given them a gift and they put aside their wants and desires and sing or play. This is a sample of being in submission.

The reluctant performer probably does not have to worry about pride while the one enjoying singing or playing in front needs to keep their desires in check. Agreement can be a curse while submission is a blessing.

Motive is a defining issue to many of the actions we do. Being in obedience through agreement or submission will determine one’s reward according to the Bible. When Christ prophesied “I bring My reward with Me”, it will be dispensed based on the motives of what a believer accomplished while working as a child of God, not by what the worker did.

http://www.gotquestions.org/judgment-seat-Christ.html

The works tried by fire will be refined to precious jewels or become chaff to the wind.

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, San Jose Christian Perspectives Examiner

There are many claiming Christianity; be it a church or individual. But there are far few that actually practice Christianity. Just because there is a cross on the front of the building doesn't mean it's a "Christian" church or organization. Jesus Christ warned that "many shall come in My Name...

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