7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Who can stand up against the Almighty? No, not one. No elaborate argument is needed to corroborate this truth. Is it then not a wise counsel to submit ourselves to God? Yet because of our foolishness, the text uses the word “therefore” (which points to what is said in the previous verse) to reinforce the reason for the command to submit to God, namely: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” If our hearts are not taught to humbly submit to God, we will soon be resisted by God. Conversely, His grace is promised us if we walk in humility and submission.
Therefore, submission to God means that we live humbly before God and His people. We must be careful to maintain lowliness of mind always, not thinking highly of ourselves, for we are nothing without His grace and help. We must also be mindful not to exalt ourselves, but to give glory to God who freely bestows salvation and all good things upon us.
Submission to God also means obedience to all His revealed will in His Word. We must attend to His Word reverentially. We must hear His Word with eagerness and readiness to believe and obey. When the Spirit of God convicts and directs our hearts through His Word, we should immediately yield ourselves to do what He bids us to do.
Moreover, the wording of the verse, “Submit yourselves therefore to God”, seems to suggest that we must be willing to accept whatever God appoints unto us. If the providence of God places us under chastisements of trials, let us submit willingly and cheerfully to His will, knowing that all these things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Let us not question or doubt the good purposes of our God. Let us not allow our hearts to grow weary or hold back ourselves from joyfully yielding to His providence. Rather, let us gird up the loins of our minds, and manifest a voluntary and active submission to our great Lord!
Submission to our Lord and Saviour will be demonstrated by immediate obedience; delays hint of insubordination, and neglects essentially reflect rebellion. While we desire to submit to God, the devil will come with his wicked suggestions and temptations to lure us away from obeying God. So, we must resist the devil by submitting ourselves to God’s Word. Then, and only then, shall the devil flee from us, and we shall have victory.