WEEK 28 – DAY 3

July 14, 2021

SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…Romans 13:1-2 (NIV)

We do not like the word “submit.” Wives bristle at the idea of being submissive to husbands. Children talk back. Employees sidestep the rules. We rail against government controls and taxes. We are disobey God when we rebel against the authority He has placed over us. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) The yoke is a symbol of oppression. The yoke is placed across an animal’s neck to control it. Jesus asks us to take His yoke voluntarily, to place ourselves under the Master’s control. The reward is “rest for your souls.” A part of the yoke of Christ is obedience to authority. If we are following the Lord’s example who paid taxes to Caesar and submitted to earthly as well as heavenly authority, we will find rest. A wife who is submissive to her husband, will find rest for her emotions because she is being obedient God. A child who obeys immediately, completely, and without complaining will earn trust and learn submissiveness making it easier to trust the Lord. Employees who follow the rules do not need to worry about being caught in wrongdoing. Those who follow the governmental laws rest much easier than those who do not. Will submission to earthly authority necessarily lead to earthly reward? No. The scripture urges us to live under authority and reminds us that when we are unjustly punished, to remember how Christ suffered for us (I Peter 2:13-25), submitting to the authorities who crucified Him for our sin.

Father, help us to submit to those You have placed in authority over us. Lord, we submit to Your complete control of the reins as we willingly take Your yoke because that means that Jesus is sharing our burden.