Submitting to Someone We Can’t See

Sheep are docile creatures that easily submit to authority. That’s a good thing; Christ Himself is known as the Lamb of God who meekly submitted to death by crucifixion in order to redeem His people from eternal ruin.

Scripture compares people to sheep; the psalmist pledges to God, “We thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations” (Psalm 79:13).

But the carnal nature of human pride is not usually submissive; it tends to be stubborn. Even when it does submit, it too often submits more to what it sees rather than to what is eternal and invisible. The result is that it’s easy to imitate other people without thinking most of all about pleasing our beloved Father in heaven, simply because He is invisible.

Research shows that peer pressure starts very early for toddlers who spend most of their time in group settings. Little tots are more likely to copy the actions of a crowd than those performed by one person. This habit is common in the 21st century; it starts in daycare and goes on from there in life. We tend to follow the crowd and typically crave its approval, even when the crowd happens to be going the wrong way. But the Bible warns, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).

So, in reading this Youth Messenger, seek to submit your heart to God instead of to people. Your faith will be richly rewarded, “for ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).