Ephesians 5:21 — and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Once again, we are struck by the contrast between what happens in the world and what we should expect to see in true fellowship. The world rejects all authority and views subjection as weakness (which it isn't) - as something demanded and enforced by superior might. It is far otherwise in true fellowship. Arising from a spirit of humility and from reverence for Christ, it is the believer's delight to be subject to every brother and sister in the church. He or she looks at Jesus subjecting Himself to God's will by dying on the cross, and subjecting Himself to His disciples in many ways, but not least when He washed their feet. He or she hears in the teaching of Jesus that He expects His disciples to do the same. Indeed if His disciples are being made like Him, this trait must be seen in them.
Of course, we won't find it easy to put on Christ in this way and in our culture. We like to find alternative meanings for passages like the one above from Paul, or to say the words need to be culturally interpreted, or that they are not at all meant for us in the 21st century. We might even reduce our attendance at any one church, realizing that we have to be regularly present to be subject to one another. This is because our flesh doesn't like the idea of being in subjection and we find it hard to believe that God could require this behavior from us.
Let's challenge ourselves in two things, then, in the light of these thoughts.
First, let's commit to a local church and be present when it meets. And second, let's seek God for the Spirit of subjection that was in Christ during His earthly ministry to rest abundantly on us also.
