In Ephesians 5:18, Paul instructed the saints at Ephesus to avoid being drunk with wine, but instead to be filled with the Spirit.  He then set forth five present participles that demonstrate that we are indeed filled with the Spirit (speaking, singing, making melody, giving thanks, and submitting).  I am especially interested in the last participle that Paul set forth.

Ephesians 5:21 (ESV)
²¹  Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Being willing to deny ourselves for others is the foundation of true discipleship.

Mark 10:42-44 (ESV)
⁴²  And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

In the kingdom of God, serving one another is the basis of greatness, not being served.  Paul recognized this when he said, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).  Paul knew what was best for the cause of Christ, and it was not being served by others just because he was an apostle.  Advancing the cause demanded servitude, and that is what he preached to others, beginning with himself being their servant.

All who profess to belong to Christ should take on this mentality.  As stated earlier, this is a part of being like Christ, and Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).    

What was Jesus like?  He was a servant to all.  Paul said He took on the form of a servant by being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).  Just before this, Paul said that we should develop the mind of Christ (ver. 6).  That is where submitting to one another begins.  It is an act of Christlikeness, and striving to be like Christ, is a sign of respect for Him.  This is why Paul said that when we submit to one another, we are doing so out of reverence for Christ.

To fulfill this apostolic command of submitting to one another, we must humble ourselves.  If you think you are always the most important person in the room, you will probably have a hard time submitting to others.  Let’s back up and read some earlier verses in Philippians 2.

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
³  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Do you count others more significant than yourself?  If you struggle with that, it is unlikely that you are fulfilling the command to submit. What stops some from having this view of others?  Paul tells us—selfish ambition or conceit.  If we are plagued by conceit, we must rid ourselves of this devilish characteristic.  It will not only prevent us from submitting to one another, but will also stop us from being like Christ now, and going to heaven after a while.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.