Reverent Submission

DEVOTION HEBREWS REVERENT SUBMISSION Heb 5:7-10 7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. NIV How do we pray? Do we offer up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears? Are we heard because of our reverent submission? We surely know that God saves us from death. We also know that he is the all-powerful God able to accomplish anything and everything. We know nothing is impossible for God. Have we become too casual, too comfortable with God that we forget able reverent submission? This is God we are talking about. It is true that John recorded Jesus called his disciples friends, but have we taken that too far because of the song, I am a friend of God? Have we forgotten to remember he is God, not just another friend? The awesomeness, the complete holy nature of God is so far above our level that we need to have a reverent fear of His power and might. Yes, He loves us so very much, so much He came in human form to die and make way for us to have eternal life. We can escape death, we can escape the horrible end designed for those who live in disobedience to His word. Yes, He surely showers blessings upon those who obey and follow His ways. Yes, He protects us, guides us, and heals us along with a host of other forms of love. But let us not forget we need to continue to offer up our prayers and petitions with reverent submission. This would imply that we should not be asking for all sorts of things for our own use, but we should be praying about what He wants us to do, in what area we need more submission. How can we become more obedient? How can we gain a better understanding of His will for us? What am I supposed to be doing for the betterment, the furtherance of the Kingdom of God? Jesus showed us the requirement of obedience, even unto death. He demonstrated just how reverent we should be, even though He was God himself. Surely we can enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise, but let us also enter with reverent submission.