November 5
The Power of a Submissive Life
1 Peter 2:13-16

  1. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
  2. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
  3. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
  4. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

We’re told to submit to every "ordinance of man" or as some translations say every "human institution." Whether it be to the one in ultimate authority himself or his messengers.  We’re to submit to those who punish the evildoers and praise those that do well.  He explains why in verse 15—it is the will of God that by your well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

We’re not to use our freedom, our liberty in the Lord, as an excuse to do evil.  But we’re to behave as servants of God.  We have liberty and freedom in the Lord because we’ve been washed by His blood and cleansed from sin and unrighteousness.  But we’re not to use that as an excuse to sin or break the law.  We’re not to rebel against the authorities in the land (Of course God is the ultimate authority and we’re to obey Him first and foremost).

As we live an honest and upright life our lifestyle will reveal the foolishness of a sinful lifestyle and silence those who promote such a lifestyle and ignorantly criticize ours.

 

Confession:

I will submit to the laws of the land and those in authority as the Lord says to do.  As I do, my lifestyle will silence the ignorance and criticisms of the foolish and reveal the wisdom of godly living.

Obedience is a tree of life!