Getting down on one knee to propose marriage is a long practiced tradition for men in our culture, perhaps because the symbolism is so powerful. Taking to one knee is an act of humility and submission. In ancient times, a vanquished foe took to a knee to indicate his willingness to accept defeat, and subjects often went onto one knee before their kings, acknowledging their submission to their authority.
To go onto one knee to propose is an act of humility, an acknowledgement of surrender of one’s self, of one’s bachelor life and all its freedom, for the privilege of joining in a partnership of love and the sacrifices that will come with it. It is saying I value you so much that I want to relinquish my old life for the sake of a new one with you.
Submitting our lives to the Lord is very similar to a marriage proposal. We come before Him in humility, acknowledging our willingness to surrender the life we have known and lived by our own terms in exchange for the privilege of a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Our love and honor of Him is so great that we are willing to relinquish our old life for a new and very different one.
And this is not done without thought and deliberation of the costs. Most men don’t just on a whim ask their girlfriends to marry them; they contemplate it first to decide if it is worth it to sacrifice their current way of life for a totally different one. And love for the woman wins out over love for themselves.
The same is true when we decide to follow Jesus. We have to love God more than ourselves. And when we do, we will find ourselves on one knee asking for that relationship that transcends all others.
Today, know the Lord is more than ready to accept your proposal of a permanent relationship with Him or a renewal of that relationship. He long ago made His wishes known. All He is waiting for is you to bend your knee and ask.
© Jim Musser 2017
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