Six Principles – seed of ideas by John MacArthur Jr.
 
We are continuing our discussion from our last devotional thought.
 
Since God’s will is not lost, it is not something to be found. Rather, it is something to be experienced.
How, then, do we “find” (experience) God’s will?
 
We are looking at SIX PRINCIPLES to experiencing God’s will. 
 
The first three principles are: You Must Be SAVED; You Must Be SPIRIT-FILLED; You Must Be Living a SANCTIFIED Life.
 
Today we look at the fourth principle:
 
4. You Must Be Living a   S U B M I S S I V E   Life
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
 
Submission is the language of a servant: Many of the New Testament writers joyfully referred to themselves as bond servants (Rom, Phil, Titus, James, 2 Peter, Jude, Rev). A “bond servant” is one who willing commits his life of service to the life to the master.
 
Jesus said, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”  (Luke 17:10)
 
God will never say “Thank You.” We say “thank you” when someone has met a need for us. Our God has no needs.  We are the ones who have needs and so we serve God as our way of saying thank you to Him.
 
The attitude of a servant is, “I’ll go anywhere you tell me to go, I’ll do anything you tell me to do, I’ll say anything you tell me to say.”
 
The practical expression of submission is in our everyday living. Are we serving those in authority over us in a Christ-like way?
 
Ephesians 6:5–6 (NIV)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 
 
We can reverse the question and ask, “Are we treating those whom we have authority over in a Christ-like way?” For Paul goes on to say,  “Masters, do the same to them…” (Ephesians 6:9).
 
We will never know God’s will for our lives if we are not wiling to do what He wills.  Why would God waste His time (so to speak) showing us His will for our lives if we are not willing to do His will?