Submission

The children and I recently visited a butterfly pavillion. Beautiful and unique varieties of butterflies were flittering among the flowers and the people. Some were sipping nectar from a dish or flower.



We lingered for a long time. The children wanted a butterfly to light on them for a close up and personal encounter. Finally, with a little help, their desire was fulfilled.



As part of the exhibit, chrysalides (That's plural for chrysalis. I know because I looked it up. *wink*) hang from a display board behind glass. Visitors to the pavilion can witness the emergence of the butterflies.

Consider the caterpillar. In order for the transformation to take place from a lowly, crawling caterpillar to a lovely, flittering butterfly, the caterpillar has to submit. Submit to being encased in a dark chrysalis. Submit to the changes which occur in the chrysalis. Submit to the time required to be in the chrysalis. Without submission in all these areas, the caterpillar will never become a butterfly and perhaps, it may even die.

As Christians, we too must submit. Submit our lives to Him. Submit to Him conforming our minds and hearts to His image. Submit to His timing. Through submission He transforms us from a lowly, sinful being to the image of Christ. Avoiding submission only makes life more difficult and eventually leads to death, death of our relationship with the Lord and perhaps even death in the relationship with others.

What area of our lives do we need to submit to Him so He can transform us from a caterpillar crawling in sin to a butterfly flittering in the freedom of transformation?

"Submit therefore to God." James 4:7