SUBMISSION TO GRACE: ACTION & INACTION

Submission to grace does not just mean that we do nothing, that is a fatal error many are propagating in today's Church. To submit to grace is a two-fold thing- both of inaction and action; firstly, it is to allow His power to work through us, and yes, not work in our own strength to achieve anything, whether it be righteousness or good works. However, while we are not to strive in our own strength, and this covers the 'inaction' part of submission, the 'action' part of submission is that part whereby we do something in order to rely on Him. This 'doing' is quite straight forward, and repeated at length in both teaching and practical example in the Word, most specifically in Jesus' life. This doing is 'prayer'. It is prayer by which, we not only recognise the grace given to us already and are thankful for it, but also agree with the Lord that it is by prayer that the Lord has chosen to impart such grace, and even special instances of grace, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' That is why Paul wrote so often to Churches saying that He prayed for them in a particular manner, sometimes that they might know and be given the knowledge of the love of God that passes understanding, or at other times that believers might be given the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Him. That is why Jesus prayed all night before He chose the twelve disciples, why Daniel prayed for the people of God in captivity, why Hannah prayed for a child, why the Israelites often prayed for deliverance, why Paul prayed about his thorn in the flesh, why the disciples prayed for boldness in their witness, and the list goes on.