Submit at all times
Your desires must be uniquely focused on the purpose and priorities of God at all times. A part-time purpose is no purpose at all.
Submission to God is a full-time endeavor. Being a disciple1 and friend2 of God is a full-time job.3 There are no breaks, exceptions, or time off. When it comes to submission, sometimes isn’t good enough. Those who submit sometimes might feel like they know the Lord, but he will tell them he doesn’t know them.4 In place of the commendations they expect, they will receive terrible punishments.5
Those who are inconsistent in their submission to God have not actually submitted to him, and cannot receive or retain the blessings of those who have.6
Submission to God is without time limit.7 Disciples of Christ work at his purpose for as long as it takes.8 When the Lord hung on the cross, he did not impose time limits, but was willing to remain for as long as it took to accomplish the Father’s will. Those submitted to the Lord follow his example, living their lives in complete devotion to his purpose until they are taken.
The Lord gives us daily opportunities to take up his purpose. He teaches us how he is, so that we can choose to be the same way. He gives us uncountable opportunities, day after day, to choose the eternal joy of all mankind over our own immediate comfort and pleasure. He gives us daily experiences to fill out and expand our understanding of how godliness looks and feels at every scope of existence under the guidance of his Holy Spirit.
Footnotes
- 1. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23) ↩
- 2. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) ↩
- 3. Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; (D&C 59:11) Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. (Psalms 106:3) ↩
- 4. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23) ↩
- 5. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:42-51) ↩
- 6. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:59-62) ↩
- 7. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. (Psalms 119:112) ↩
- 8. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. (Luke 14:27-32) ↩