Submit yourself to God
James 4:1–10; Psalm 54; Mark 9:30–37
Submitting to God means surrendering our will and desire to God, obeying His commands, and seeking His wisdom and direction. We are not just to submit; we must equally resist the devil. We can’t serve two masters.
By submitting to God, we are empowered to overcome spiritual struggles. Hence, James says, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8).
In the gospel, the disciples’ argument about who is the greatest reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. However, Jesus patiently corrects them, teaching them the importance of humility and servant leadership (Mark 9:35–37). Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from serving God and rendering service to others.
Let us pray
Almighty God, to whom this world with all its goodness and beauty belongs, give us grace joyfully to begin this day in your name and to fill it with an active love for you and our neighbor. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
