"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. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For 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. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
Today's lesson clearly tells us that as Christian people we should obey the demands of those placed in authority over us, no matter what they might require us short of rejecting the omniscience of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to uphold our obligation to authority without resentment and without fail.
Although it is sometimes extremely difficult to bend to the seemingly unfair demands placed on us by those who have power over us it behooves us as children of God to honor those things that are written into law.
Our only means of overcoming tyranny is to place it in the hands of God through constant, humble prayer. God will righteously judge those who misuse us and we will be graciously rewarded for our humility.~
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