THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE
I Peter 2:13-14
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."
This is a challenging verse. Do we obey man or God? The God-follower is caught between these two opposing allegiances – to the laws of the world-system or to the heavenly kingdom. As citizens of God's kingdom, we are bound to its laws, but we are also subject to the laws of the state. Peter understood this conflict from personal experience. In the early days of the movement, the Apostles were commanded by the authorities to not preach in the name of Jesus. When called before these rulers, Peter said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). When they persisted in disobeying the worldly laws, they were arrested again, and Peter answered, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), and they were beaten for their disobedience of man's law (Acts 5:40). Martyrs through the centuries have faced this challenge, and paid the price for their allegiance to God. Even in America today, people are being persecuted and paying the price for rejecting man's ordinances, "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God...esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches" (Hebrews 25:26). We are obligated to submit to the laws of the land, but when those laws conflict with God's laws, we are bound to the higher law.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Obedience to God's law takes precedence over the ordinances of this world.
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Have an obedient day. Love you.
I Peter 2:13-14
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."
This is a challenging verse. Do we obey man or God? The God-follower is caught between these two opposing allegiances – to the laws of the world-system or to the heavenly kingdom. As citizens of God's kingdom, we are bound to its laws, but we are also subject to the laws of the state. Peter understood this conflict from personal experience. In the early days of the movement, the Apostles were commanded by the authorities to not preach in the name of Jesus. When called before these rulers, Peter said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). When they persisted in disobeying the worldly laws, they were arrested again, and Peter answered, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), and they were beaten for their disobedience of man's law (Acts 5:40). Martyrs through the centuries have faced this challenge, and paid the price for their allegiance to God. Even in America today, people are being persecuted and paying the price for rejecting man's ordinances, "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God...esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches" (Hebrews 25:26). We are obligated to submit to the laws of the land, but when those laws conflict with God's laws, we are bound to the higher law.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Obedience to God's law takes precedence over the ordinances of this world.
[end]
Have an obedient day. Love you.
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