Today's Devotional

 

February 27, 2008

                                                                                         

Subject:  How To Be Subject

Romans 13:1-3 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same"

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The problem that many of us have with the passage above is the word "subject."  We don't just have that problem in relationship to the king but in many of the situations in which God places us.  We've already talked about the requirement to be subject to the higher powers, but what does that look like?  I think we've got biblical examples as well as modern day examples.

If you can recall the Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, they were an excellent example of being subject and their king was most evil.  If you read the story you will see that the only way they were not subject to the king was when he asked them to do something in direct opposition to the command of God.  That's our line.  Only in cases where the commands of God are being contradicted should we stand against the king.

Today we find any reason to be insubordinate to our leadership.  I don't like the way he/she talks.  I don't like how much we pay in taxes.  He or she is sinful.  None of that is reason for us not to be subject to their leadership.  We should be subject until the end and if the king is asking you to do something against the dictates of God, then we should stand strongly and get thrown into the fiery furnace.  Anybody ready for that type of faith?  When you are, then you know you're being subject.  

Carlen