What is the biggest lesson I’ve learned this month? Submission to authority. I think this
is the hardest thing for me to learn, to change. By nature, I am a rebellious
kid who will not follow the ‘rules’ or norms if I don’t agree with it. And I’ve
found myself in this situation a lot this month. I’ve found my heart hardened
many times in church and just having an “I don’t care” attitude because I felt
like I was wasting time in a service where I didn’t understand a single word
and had so many things I disagree with and dislike. But really, who am I to
judge?
James 4:11-12
“Don’t speak
evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge
each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to
obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the
law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right
do you have to judge your neighbor?”
From the Life Application Study Bible commentary:
Jesus summarized the law as love for God and neighbor (Matt
22:37-40), and Paul said that love demonstrated toward a neighbor would fully
satisfy the law (Romans 13:6-10). When we fail to love, we are actually
breaking God’s law.
Matt 7:1-2
“Do not
judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you
will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Romans 13:1-3
“Everyone must
submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except
that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves.”
There was one time when I refused to go to a church service
after we had just finished a long day of ‘evangelism’. I was completely
exhausted, and my attitude and action showed much disrespect to the church
leaders. However, I was so convicted by the Holy Spirit that I had to go up to
the Pastor and his assistant the next day and apologize.
This is one big lesson I am still learning. To submit even
when I don’t feel like it, because God has ordained them to be my leaders at
this time.
