The Bible teaches us that God’s authority over us is GOOD. But Satan attempts to deceive us by saying that God’s authority is not good and cannot be trusted (see Gen. 3:1, 4-5). In addition, it is in the heart of unsaved men to automatically disobey God and live independently of God. We are all rebels at heart until God saves us, indwells us, and begins to reign in us.
Romans 13:1-5 makes it clear that we are to submit to our human authorities as unto the Lord Himself. All of us recognize that our human authorities (including pastors, policemen, mayors, Presidents, parents, teachers, husbands, etc.) are flawed YET we are really trusting God with our submission to them. God will take care of them as He is their ultimate authority. We are called to do our part to honor God by honoring those persons He has placed in authority above us.
Think about it – if God is good and loves us, then won’t He have our best in mind? I want God’s best for my life and the authorities He has placed above me are for my own good…even the harsh ones. I Peter 2:18 tells servants: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.”** That is a tough verse to obey but we obey it out of our faith and trust in Christ. God means that difficult situation for our own good and to teach us to become like Christ. God is molding our character to be like His character! Jesus submitted to the rulers of His day (i.e. give to Ceasar what is Caesar’s) and we are to do likewise.
At Truth in Love, I am so thankful to have a group of godly men serving on our Board to direct this ministry! I submit to their leadership and authority and am grateful that they are just servants of the Most High God!
-Mark (learning to daily submit to the God-given authorities over me AND seeing them as GOOD)
** – The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) Good News Publishers: Wheaton.