Submit!

Romans 13:1-5 (AMP): "Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.  2Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]. 3 For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation. 4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience."

Are you OBEDIENT to the authorities placed over you? Now I know most of you will say...YES, but let's take it a step further from this question. Are you OBEDIENT to the authorities placed over you, EVEN when they are NOT WATCHING you??? Uh...oh!!! You know those times when you...should be working on your job related projects but you are working on your own personal things...like looking up shopping items, talking to your girlfriend at work, planning your next get together; taking home those office supplies that are intended for the workplace; or adding your own personal expenses to your business expenses because who's going to know???

Well, here's the TRUTH... GOD SEES IT ALL and He is NOT PLEASED with your DISOBEDIENCE.

Yes, He is a Forgiving God and will Forgive you if you have done it but He wants to see a heart change toward REPENTANCE from the action once you are made aware of it. See God looks at our hearts and gives us opportunities to MOVE towards the changes that will bring about His Will. (...For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7) He does hold us ACCOUNTABLE once we are made aware of it...and every time you decide to follow YOUR WILL over His Will you are limiting the rewards He wants to give to you now and in Heaven.

He even helps us learn this same lesson with the children we are raising…Do you reward your children when they have disobeyed you??? If you are…that’s another issue, but how would you ever get your child to obey you if they did not have consequences for disobeying? God sees it the same way! He is often using the people around us to show us our mess...because everything is connected to our relationships with Him and with others. It's the method He uses to TEACH us when we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings in our lives.

So the next time your kids are disobedient to you or you FEEL like doing something different out of your authorities view…recognize the GREAT AUTHORITY is still within view and waiting for you to SEE that you need to TURN from your will, SUBMIT to His Will and OBEY!