“Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors…” – 1 Peter 2:13
What is biblical submission? Submission is one equal voluntarily placing himself or herself under another equal that God may therefore be glorified. Submission is simply getting under the authority that God has established, not for that authority’s sake, but for God’s sake who established the authority.
When you submit yourself to a governmental authority, you’re not doing it for their sake; you’re doing it for Jesus’ sake. And that makes a difference. God has established authority everywhere. And God is behind all authority. So, when you submit, you’re not merely submitting to a human being, you’re ultimately submitting to Almighty God. And when you do that, God begins to invest in your kingdom authority.
- How does today’s devotion challenge your thinking on submission to authorities?
- Where is God calling you to submit to an authority you have a disagreement with?
PRACTICE THIS
Take practical steps of submission to authorities in your life this week, remembering that you are ultimately submitting to God and not to man.