BECAUSE OF GOD, WE SUBMIT
Christina Andrews
Today’s Scripture: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” 1 Peter 2:13-14, ESV
Theme: Honor God by honoring your leaders and remember that He is in control, regardless of who is in charge.
HUMAN AUTHORITY
Wow is it hard to submit ourselves to our human authorities? Many of us, if not all, have trouble with this! When we think about our leaders or the authorities in our lives, we often think “well, are they worthy of my submission,” “do they believe the same as I believe,” or “how can I submit to someone who believes so differently than I?” These questions make it hard to submit to the leaders we struggle with most.
FOR THE LORD
Yet, these verses in 1 Peter 2 do not say to submit to the leaders you agree with or like. These verses say to submit to your earthly leaders “for the Lord’s sake” (v.13), but what does that mean? If we read in Blue Letter Bible, we find that the ancient Greek word for “sake” in this verse is “dia.” The word “dia” can mean by reason of, on account of, because of, therefore, or on this account.
So, imagine 1 Peter 2:13 says, “Submit yourselves…
By reason of the Lord,
On account of the Lord,
Because of the Lord.
When we submit to our earthly rulers because of, on account of, and by reason of the Lord. We do not submit to our earthly rulers just because we should, but we submit to our earthly rulers because of the Lord and all He promises us. He promises eternal life, His presence through the Holy Spirit, victory over sin, faithfulness to His creation, and to come back one day.
GOD’S PERFECT PLAN
The Lord has not left us alone in the world to navigate all its ups and downs, but He has promised to be there for us, stay faithful to caring for us, and ultimately come back one day, making the whole of creation right with God again. Because of the Lord's promise to be present with us, we do not have to stake a claim or root our hopes in the earthly rulers around us. We GET to submit to our earthly rulers BECAUSE the Lord has given us hope that He reigns over all things and He will come back one day. The Lord is sovereign over our earthly rulers and has a perfect plan to bring all of creation back to Him, no matter who our earthly rulers are. God uses “good rulers” and “bad rulers” to bring about His perfect plans! Our hope is in God alone and we can have peace knowing that we have a greater hope and authority in Him.
Make it Personal: What authority are you struggling to submit to today? How can the message of God’s sovereignty help you? How can submitting to an authority for the “Lord’s sake” improve your freedom and hope in Christ?
Pray: Father, thank You for Your promises to be our greater hope. Thank You for being sovereign over all of creation. Thank You for being sovereign over our earthly leaders. Thank You that You use all kinds of people to bring about your perfect plan, and thank You that we can trust in Your perfect plan for humanity. We pray that You would help us to submit to our authorities because of Your promises. Help us to recognize that our hope is in Christ alone and no amount of earthly promise can compare to what You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Read: Romans 13:1-7
Weekly Memory Verse: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45, ESV