Obeying Authority

Lately, the topic of authority seems to be everywhere in my life, whether it is on the news about the new President, at church, or at my new job. I think it is important as Christians that we remind ourselves that God places a high value on authority because He is the one who created it. The Bible says that all authority comes from and starts with God. He is the absolute source of authority in the universe, and has delegated His principle of authority to us to maintain order in the world.

“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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Romans 13:1-2

I think it would be safe to say that our attitude toward Christ as our Lord, is directly associated with our attitude toward other authority. Jesus Christ cannot be fully “Lord” over the person who acts in rebellion toward authority figures. The Bible says, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

Considering how our attitude toward all authority relates to our submission to the “Lordship” of Christ, we should especially be sensitive to the authority of the Church and spiritual leaders, who have specifically been assigned to lead the Church. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:17, to “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Even more important than secular authorities, Christians must be cooperative with their spiritual leaders, who have been given the responsibility to “watch for their souls.” Another way you could take this verse is that it appears that all Christians are supposed to be under the authority of a spiritual leader. This would also mean that all believers should be a part of a local Church which has spiritual supervision by a pastor and elders.

Self Control

Throughout the Bible, God calls us to have self-control. In both 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul addresses the requirements for elders and officials in leadership positions. “Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8).

One verse that stood out to me was 2 Peter 1:5-8.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Peter also mentions self-control as part of our call to holiness. “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:13-16).

Self-control is an attribute of our Creator that Jesus exemplified in His life and that Paul strongly exhorts us to exercise in ours. If we are to be made in our Father's image, we will yield to God in this matter to glorify Him with our moderation in all things and rigid resistance to sin.

The last verse that I really stood out to me was Proverbs 25:28.

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls"

"The picture is that of a city whose walls have been so nearly destroyed as to be without defense against an enemy; so is the man who has no restraint over his spirit, the source of man's passionate energies. He has no defense against anger, lust, and other unbridled emotions that destroy the personality."

Do Not Expect a Smooth and Easy Path

By Arthur Pink

Prosperity is often a mixed blessing, and adversity is far from being an unmixed calamity! Alternating spiritual prosperity and adversity, is the lot of God's people on this earth. All is not unclouded sunshine with them--nor is it unrelieved gloom and storm. There is a mingling of both: joys--and sorrows; victories--and defeats; assistance from friends--and injuries from foes; smiles from the Lord's countenance--and the hidings of His face.

By such changes, opportunities are afforded for the development and exercise of different graces, so that we may, in our measure, "know how to be abased--and how to abound . . . both to be full--and to be empty" (Phil. 4:12). But above all, that we may, amid varying circumstances, prove the unchanging faithfulness of God--and His sufficiency to supply our every need.

Ah, my reader, if you are one of God's elect--do not expect a smooth and easy path through this earthly wilderness--but be prepared for varying circumstances and drastic changes. The Christian's resting place is not in this world, for "here have we no continuing city" (Hebrews 13:14). The Christian is a "pilgrim," on a journey; he is a "soldier," called on to fight the good fight of faith. The more this is realized, the less keen will be the disappointment, when our ease is disturbed, and our outward peace harshly broken in upon.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous," and if 'troubles' do not come to us in one form--they most certainly will in another! If we really appropriate this promise--then we shall not be so staggered when afflictions come upon us. It is written that, "it is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22), and therefore we should make up our minds to expect the same, and to "not to think it strange" (1 Peter 4:12) when we are called upon to pass through "the fiery trial." Affliction, tribulation, and fiery trial--are a times, our portion here on earth.

Changing circumstances afford opportunity for the development and exercise of different graces. Some graces are of the active and aggressive kind--while others are of a passive order, requiring quite another setting for their display. Some of the traits which mark the soldier on a battlefield, would be altogether out of place were he languishing on a bed of sickness. Both spiritual joy and godly sorrow--are equally beautiful in their season.

As there are certain vegetables, fruits, and flowers which cannot be grown in lands which are unvisited by nipping winds and biting frosts--so there are some fruits of the Spirit which are only produced in the soil of severe trials, troubles and tribulations!

The Ultimate Hard Thing

In life we choose to do hard things because Jesus has done the hardest thing. The thing we could never do for ourselves. He died in our place and paid for our sins. Apart from Him, nothing we attempt or accomplish will have any enduring significance. But because He did something of ultimate significance, we can live lives that truly matter, not just for now, but for all eternity.

I must remind myself that this truth allows us to confidently and joyfully do hard things, even at great cost to ourselves, for the honor of the One who saved us. Because we know that the hard things we attempt will make a real difference. Our trust is not in the greatness of our vision or the strength of our effort, but in the grace and wisdom and goodness of God. Our reason for rebelling against low expectations in the world around us is that Jesus tells us He has overcome the world and, through faith in Him, so can we.