Reflection: Submission before freedom
The Christian author C.S. Lewis talks about freedom through the illustration of a goldfish in a bowl. The fish is limited and constrained by the water and the bowl. For it to be fully free, we would need to take it out of its bowl and drop it on the table. Sure, then it might be free, but would it be flourishing? We see in this reading from Romans, that the same principle applies to us.
When we submit to God and his will for our lives, we are blessed with the righteousness of Jesus, we are freed from slavery to sin, and we become slaves to righteousness – and all the wonderful things that come with that, including relationship with God, identity, meaning and eternal life. True flourishing and true freedom come through the right kind of submission – putting the right constraints around us.
Are you submitted to your loving God today?
Prayer:
O God my Father. Help me to remember the truth that I am always a slave to something. Help me to have the strength and courage to submit to you so that I can be a slave to righteousness. I trust you to know what’s best for me, so I can truly flourish in the way you want me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.