What is your opinion about people in authority such as police officers, government officials, parents, and teachers? Perhaps, you do not like people telling you what to do. Maybe, you like to be independent with little or no supervision to get tasks completed. Perhaps, you feel like you need someone to keep you on track, otherwise nothing would get done.
No matter how you view people with more authority, control, and power than you, you must respect their leadership abilities. If they irritate or bother you, do not get angry or upset. If they make a mistake, do not think of yourself any better than they are because authority figures are just as human as everyone else. Also, when something goes wrong, it does not make it right to blame or point a finger at the person with power. Sure, "With great power comes great responsibility," but no one can handle a situation on their own no matter how much control or influence that person has. People need to cooperate and work together as one body to accomplish what needs to get done to make things better.
God appoints authority figures on this Earth. God knows what is best, and he chooses who will exercise authority, and he decides who will be a leader in this world. This appointment by God is evident in Romans 13:1, which says, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." This is saying that everyone must respect those who have authority because God chooses these people to be his special servants and to be leaders in every nation in order to help, protect, and provide for millions of people.
People we should respect and submit to might include the President of the United States, police officers, judges, pastors, and bosses at your workplace. For Romans 13:1 says, "The authorities that exist have been established by God." God placed Barack Obama as the leader of the United States, so you must acknowledge his leadership no matter what opinion you may have of him, but you should also pray for him because he is God's servant.
If you continually disobey and argue with your manager or supervisor during your work shift, you will have to face the consequences like fewer hours, lower pay, or even getting fired. This example is exactly what Romans 13:2 says: "Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." So if you are not obeying the instructions your parents give you, you are not obeying God, and you are just bringing the consequences upon yourself for later.
Parents are the biggest authority figures in the world. One of the ten commandments in Exodus 20 says, "Honor your father and your mother." Submitting to authorities is important because there is punishment for those who do not submit like jail time for disrespecting a cop, a time-out for disobeying a parent, and getting kicked out of a class for not respecting a professor. Romans 13:4 says, "For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." This is saying that authority figures use their leadership skills to help you, but if you get out of line when they tell you to do something, the authority figures have the right to intervene. Bad choices always have consequences.
Romans 13:7 says, "Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." It is important to honor, to respect, and to submit to earthly leaders and rulers, but remember that God is the ultimate authority figure. He created the heavens and the earth. God has all the power and control in our lives. God commands your destiny from the beginning to the end. Submit to God, take up your cross, and follow him.
We are on this earth to serve and to honor him. We are here to do his purpose, so that we may shine the light of Jesus Christ wherever we may go. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." So, obey God's authority, and do not let his vision out of your sight. We are all a part of the Lord's army to serve other people, to honor and glorify God, and to share the Good News, so that the Lord's Kingdom will grow and grow.
Our daily walk and personal relationship with Jesus can only grow and develop if we are fully dedicated and submitted to him, his purpose, and his authority.
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