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A Godprint Bible Devotion

This Bible devotion takes the everyday object of an umbrella and connects it with God's Word to teach us a spiritual truth to help us grow in Christ and bring encouragement.  It's great to use as a Bible object lesson for adults!  We also have a Bible lesson plan format too for youth & kids.

God is at work in us and all around us.  Our fingerprints identify us, and God has placed His identifying marks all over our world and lives to point us to Him!  This type of Bible devotion lesson is meant to help us see His "Godprints."

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas @ Pexels

God's Umbrella  
[A Godprint Bible Devotion Lesson]

Meditate:

Recently my husband and I celebrated 37 years of marriage…and we are still smiling in spite of ourselves! Marriage can be hard and many have negative thoughts and feelings about it. 

This Bible object lesson devotion is not about marriage though. It’s about something we associate with marriage in a negative connotation – “submission.”

Did you notice that you may have even cringed a bit inside when you read the word? God never meant for submission to cause us to cringe or rebel.

Let’s think of submission like an umbrella; it provides protection. We don’t have to come up under its protection, but when we don’t, we’ll be exposed to the elements whether rain or hot sunrays.

God offers us His umbrella of protection, but it is our choice to draw close to Him to receive it. We also must allow Him to hold it in His capable hands. Does anyone else here struggle with the need for control? It’s in our best interests to let go and let God!

When we think of Bible verses that speak of submission, we usually first think of “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” This same statement is found both in Ephesians 5:22 and Colossians 3:18.

Let's look a little closer though at Ephesians 5:15-21 -

 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Paul is speaking to everyone, not just married couples. He’s encouraging both married and single to walk wisely. Part of this walking wisely entails “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ," and ultimately submitting to God which is in no way a negative!

The word “submit” speaks of - accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person. It comes from the Greek word “hypotasso” which means:

  1. to arrange under, to subordinate
  2. to subject, put in subjection
  3. to subject one's self, obey
  4. to submit to one's control
  5. to yield to one's admonition or advice
  6. to obey, be subject

So in using the Bible object lesson of our umbrella, it means to come up under the authority or will of another for the purpose of protection and care.

Imagine a gentleman opening and holding an umbrella out for a lady to step under for protection from the rain. Yes, he has control and authority over where the umbrella moves, but he is holding it in order to provide care. God is the same way; He is the truest of all gentlemen! It is safe to walk beneath His authority and will.

The context of marriage is used in the next several verses to depict this very idea. In a perfect world marriage would reflect the care with which God wants to place over us as believers, His Church. He will not force it though; remember – He is a gentleman. It is our choice every day to come up under His protection, wisdom and love.


"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

Ephesians 5:22-27


These verses are actually more about the love of God pictured in the love of a husband pointing to the fact it is safe to come up under His authority, His protection, His care and love.

The next time we step out into a rainy day, let's be reminded that a wonderful, loving God offers to walk with us covering us with Himself for safety and belonging.


Photo by Engin Akyurt @ Pexels

Bible Devotion Verses

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Colossians 3:15-24

These last words in Colossians 3 sum this Bible devotion up well, and we would do well to remember - "It is the Lord Christ we are serving."  Whether we are married or single, a man or woman, an adult or child.  If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus as our ultimate authority; we won't go wrong.


More Bible Devotion Scriptures

"Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you."

2 Chronicles 30:8


“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you."

Job 22:21


"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7

"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,"

1 Peter 3:5

"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5


Activate:

Godprint Bible Devotion Take-alongs

If you're like me, my Bible devotion time is limited by the busyness of the day.  Therefore I like to find ways for God to continue to bring back the thoughts and lessons from that time. 

  1. For the next week, whether it is raining or not, carry an umbrella with you to remind you of God's nearness and care.
  2. The next time you actually use an umbrella, let it make for a creative Gospel conversation starter - "Carrying this umbrella reminds me of how God covers me with His protection and love..."
  3. Draw a tiny umbrella, on a sticky note or somewhere like on your wrist under your watch - somewhere only you will see it and be reminded of this object Bible devotion.  Each time stop and thank God for His constant love and care.
  4. Teach this as a family Bible devotion with this Bible Object Lesson.


© Copyright 2022 Susan Smart


More Godprint Bible devotion lessons like this one...or our Bible Seeker Object Lessons with extension activities for teaching. 


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