Is It an Obligation to Submit?

Are we truly living with the conviction needed to fulfill our purpose?

Humanity has many plans or purposes—some good, some bad. For example, there are social, political, or activist groups that, once you join, expect you to become like them and even recruit others out of admiration. Human admiration can be deceiving (subjective), and some groups even recruit with harmful intentions, like gangs.

With that said, what gives us a positive plan that genuinely desires our well-being?

The Bible teaches: “Still, it was what the Lord had in mind all along: to crush Him with suffering. The plan was that He give His life as an offering for sin so that life—life, life, and more life—would spring forth from that sacrifice. And the Lord’s plans will prosper deeply through Him.” (Isaiah 53:10)

Here, the prophet is speaking about Jesus and the plan God had for Him. But there is a detail many overlook in this verse: “The plan was that He would give Himself.”

If we read carefully, we see that Jesus was not forced into this plan; He had a choice through free will. God did not push Him or compel Him to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus had to submit, by His own will, to God’s plan in order to become our Savior.

Through Jesus, we see what happens when someone follows God’s plan—because through His sacrifice, many lives were saved.

Following His plans brings blessings in abundance.

What thoughts are taking place in your mind?

Human will is sovereign because no one is forced; each person decides for themselves, just as Jesus chose to submit to God’s plans. Today, many people live guided by their own desires, by the desires of others, or by human thoughts—but not by the thoughts of God, who is the only One who desires what is completely and truly good for us.

The Bible continues: “After the terrible anguish of His soul, He will see the results and be satisfied. By what He suffered, My righteous Servant will make many righteous, for He will bear their sins.

And I will reward Him greatly… because He faced death without backing down and embraced the despised. He bore the sin of many and interceded for those who were lost.” (Isaiah 53:11–12)

Jesus fully submitted to God’s plan—not out of religiosity or obligation. Following God’s plan is not like paying bills or taxes every month; it isn’t mechanical. We follow His plan because we love Him and want to fulfill His purposes—reaching souls that are forgotten or despised. The reward is far greater than anything we could imagine.

That is why our thoughts must be like Jesus’:

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
(John 4:34)

His food, His thoughts, His desire, His hunger were all centered on doing the will of the One who sent Him—and from that came everything great and abundant.

Do not allow yourself to be guided by what deceives or by what separates us from God’s thoughts. Seek what is above, because only there will we find what is good, complete, and fulfilling for our lives.