Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
AUTHORITY
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1
The only exception to this would be if those governing authorities demand you or me to act or behave contrary to God’s will and the gospel truth of Scripture, dishonoring God, shaming the Son, and grieving the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:19). The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18) for He is “the ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5), as “King of kings” (Rev 17:14; 19:16). To defy authority is to challenge the sovereign God Himself. When we think of His attribute of omnipotence, we often think of His being all-powerful; however, it also speaks of His being Potentate over all. He places men in positions of authority as another opportunity for His redeemed saints to see the glorious gospel testimony of His Son’s providential authority, and His provisional dealings in the situations and circumstances surrounding us. When earthly kings, potentates, prime ministers, or presidents, whether saved or unsaved, behave wisely and decently in governing God’s people, we enjoy the freedom to advance Christ’s kingdom in thought, word, and deed. When these earthly governors behave unwisely and act indecently, opposing Christ’s gospel and dismissing God’s Word, those who stand firmly for Christ’s gospel will be an eternal testimony to Christ and His truth. Governing authorities who deal unwisely do so because they do not submit themselves to Christ, the authority over all. These will act like their father, Satan, who hates authority (Isa 14:12-14). Through his minions, Satan desires to erode the authority structure of the church, of families, of husbands, of parents, of fathers, all ordained to proclaim Christ’s gospel. Each time we see an authority structure, it is a testimony of Christ’s blessed gospel— of sovereign command unto submissive obedience to Christ, of prophetic utterance unto fulfillment in Christ, and of providential orderliness unto a glorious witness for Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
1 Samuel 15; Romans 13; Jeremiah 52; Psalm 31
