Here’s some good news: The kingdom of God is one invisible nation, indivisible, with deliverance and healing for all who will humbly receive it.

When we’re radically submitted to the risen Jesus as citizens of God’s kingdom, living in humble, ongoing obedience to His will, we begin to walk in mutual submission to and heart-felt service to one another. We begin to “Consider others better than yourself,” and “Submit to one another.” That consideration and submission “is fitting in the Lord.” It means being full of love for others and without harshness.

Christians today have trouble embracing mutual submission because church for many centuries has tended to follow an authoritarian model. Although we say that Christ is the Head, functionally He’s actually a figurehead, while a pastor literally runs the service and operates as if he is the head. Jesus gave an alternative model. He said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

A great person serves others without pulling rank, exploiting positional power, or boasting in titles or credentials. For example, a great husband serves his wife, and a great wife serves her husband. When members of the body of Christ gather as His Spirit-led town hall meeting, God’s kingdom comes and brings submission to God and to one another.

In the light of the Cross of Christ, there are no human rights. None of us are entitled to anything. We’ve earned nothing. We’re doing better than we deserve. Everything we have is through grace and mercy. Now we need to show grace and mercy to all people, because God so love the world that . . .

The pride in me causes me to resist humbling myself. To be truly humble I must resist and die to my pride. “Consider others better than yourself” today.