It’s hard to respect other people, especially those who are in positions of authority over us. In fact, aren’t people in authority – whether bosses or politicians or even teachers – the very frequent targets of our criticism? It’s even harder to submit to other people – to sacrifice our own self-interests and be willing to put someone else first. I’d say that the word “submit” has become one of the “dirtiest” words in our society today. “Submit? I’m not going to submit to anybody!” Have you ever thought something like that? If we have, then we need to hear God’s command to Christians: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, 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. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15). What’s God’s will for his people? He wants us to willingly submit to every authority in our lives, because he knows that by doing so, we will let our Christian lights shine brightly in a proud world devoid of respect or humble submission. But won’t that make us make us nothing? Won’t that mean that we’re not important? Isn’t it better to fight back? To fight fire with fire? No. No it isn’t! You want proof? Think of Jesus. That’s who Peter points us to. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:23-24). Jesus entrusted himself to God, submitted himself to the authorities in his life, even though they were wicked men, and took away our sins by unjustly dying on the cross. Did Jesus’ humble submission make him nothing? Did Jesus’ sufferings mean he wasn’t important? No! He’s the perfect Savior of the world! Do you want to do something crazy? Do you want to live in a way that will make you stand out from the people around you? Follow your Savior. Submit to authority. Speak respectfully of everyone. Sacrifice for others. Because you trust in God. You’ve entrusted yourself to him. He delivers and saves. May God bless you as you humbly submit to God and others today.
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