DCLM Higher Everyday 21 December 2022 — Submission is supreme
DCLM Higher Everyday 21 December 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Submission is supreme
TOPIC: SUBMISSION IS SUPREME
TEXT: 1 PETER 2:13-20
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
MEMORY VERSE: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 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” (1 PETER 2:13, 14).
MESSAGE:
Christ’s example teaches us the acceptable Christian attitude to civil authorities. At birth, His heavily pregnant mother made the difficult journey to Bethlehem, in obedience to Caesar’s decree of a universal census. In childhood, Jesus Himself observed the Jewish Passover. In adulthood, He taught the importance of paying due taxes to the governor.
By contrast, the Zealots were a nationalistic resistance group in Israel. They advocated civil disobedience and acts of sabotage against the occupying forces of Rome. Jesus approved of neither, He taught non-resistance and non-retaliation. True believers today must follow in His steps.
God is the King; earthly rulers are His regents to institute order, decency and security in human societies. Believers are therefore called to submit to the authority of the state. Yes, even if the ruler himself is morally bankrupt personally.
So then, the just laws of civil society must be obeyed irrespective of who enacts them. Only when those laws oppose the laws of God, when civil leaders seek to usurp the place of God in our hearts as believers, should we say ‘No’ to them.
QUOTE: Earthly rulers are God’s regents.
CHALLENGE: Are you a loyal citizen of your nation?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to reflect You in all I do.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
