Read I Corinthians 11: 2 – 16

Why would I reject my individuality?  Why should you?  Because you are commanded to be an imitator of Christ.  By being in submission to the Father, Christ allowed Himself to be crucified to redeem us all.  So, follow the example and be in submission.  Great things can take place when you submit to the Lord.

The word submission holds an unfavorable connotation—-we sort of instantly imagine a wrestling match where one person is being pinned down forcibly.  That’s not an accurate portrayal of what’s being commanded.  Instead, imagine a dog + owner on a walk together.  The dog is happy to walk peaceably with the owner and be guided as the owner sees fit.  We all know that the owner is the one who should be making the decisions in this relationship.  This dog is in submission and it is a good thing.

We’ve all been witness to the dog that does not walk peaceably and has to be tugged here and there, scolded and coaxed.  It’s always an embarrassment for the owner and what could be an enjoyable outing is more of a chore.  This dog is not submitting to the owner and while we love the dog, it’s not a pup we especially trust or hold to high expectations.  

Not to be the bearer of bad news but you are the dog…the Lord is your owner.  He is the one who should be making the decisions, please let Him.

If you allow yourself to stop placing your motivations on what you want, what’s best for you, and so on and instead start to ask what would He want, what would be best for Him; than you will begin to see your distinct God-given role coming to fruition and it will ultimately be better than whatever you were attempting to contrive.  

Maybe you noticed, the biblical passage at the beginning is about head coverings.  How does any of this relate to this strange excerpt regarding head coverings?  It’s not so much about the literal covering of the head and more about a woman submitting to her husband, a husband submitting to Christ, and Christ submitting to the Father.  It’s essentially a company structure chart, to paint a modern picture.  However, in this organization all of the roles hold value and work together like an intricate puzzle.  The Lord is one of order, not chaos.

A few questions to consider: Why is it so difficult to reject individuality and accept the invitation into a greater role? Are you a piece of this greater puzzle? If not, do you want to be?

With love,

Millie Baxter

P.S. Share the good news!

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