Submission to Authority
Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice
Scripture: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. – Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)
Submission to delegated authority—whether in the church, the workplace, or the home—is a test of our heart’s submission to the Ultimate Authority. If we cannot honor the leaders God has placed in our lives, we are effectively saying that we do not trust God’s sovereignty in those appointments. We are called to submit ‘with joy,’ recognizing that leadership is a burden they carry on our behalf, and our obedience makes their labor lighter and more effective for our own spiritual benefit.
Check your attitude toward your leaders today. Are you a source of friction or a source of encouragement? While earthly leaders are imperfect your respectful and obedient response is a direct reflection of your relationship with Christ. By choosing to submit where you can without compromising biblical principle you honor the order God has established and demonstrate the humility that characterizes a true follower of Jesus.
Prompt: How does your attitude toward earthly authority reflect your submission to God's ultimate authority?
Action Step: The Practice of discipleship includes honoring God by submitting to the authorities He has placed in our lives.
Next Step: Pray for a leader or authority figure in your life today.