Admit it. Neither do you.
I have trouble with people, who I know are just as broken and sinful as I am, telling me what to do. But God says that, if they are in a position of authority over me, I am to do what I am told as long as it does not contradict His Word. And I don't like it.
I once saw a visual of this that actually helped a lot, however. It was lineup of sorts: I face my authority, but Christ stands behind him, quietly, firmly, with unwavering sinlessness. I might not want to obey the person, but no matter what, I can obey my God. I may see a flesh and blood person, but God stands behind him bearing authority I cannot, do not even want, to debate.
Now I correctly understand authority. It resides, all of it, not with a man or woman, but with God. I obey not because people are right or just, but because God is.
The same logic, God says, applies to how I deal with my enemies, and this is why:
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.--Ephesians 6:12
Just as I look at my authorities and obey because I see God working through them, I, in the same way, look at my enemies and see not my battle with them, but God's battle with evil. I have to remember that the battle is not mine, but God's.
Men themselves are not evil. God made them, every one of them. They are, however, twisted and used by evil. Through it all, God is fighting the battle to win them back right in front of our eyes.
I am to engage in that battle, but not against their flesh. I am to battle the evil that controls their flesh. Murder only kills the flesh. It does not defeat the enemy.
Keeping the right battle focus is extremely important. I need to always -- ALWAYS -- remember that. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMurder does take many forms. Abortion is one, and Jesus said we are not to hate as that is the same as murder. You wouldn't think so, but we must learn to love even the unloveable.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, in view of what Jesus showed us by His own life, especially the unloveable.
DeleteOh, to remember that my job is to love. The battle is the Lord's
ReplyDeleteJoanne--I liked what I was reading, as God has been reminding me (true confessions time) that my spouse is not my enemy--The Enemy is my enemy. And my warfare is spiritual, mighty through God. This remids me to keep focused on God and on making it all a matter of prayer.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Oh, Jody. You have so much company in this. In all honesty, this is where this sweet truth began, in disciplining my thoughts so that I understood that my husband was not my adversary. We have only one real enemy, but he just occupies so many faces, sometimes ones we love and live with. I had to learn to see God in my husband and every other person first if I was ever to see more clearly either Him or evil at all.
DeleteThis is very well written. I admit that I had a problem with what you were saying at first because of past experience, but you are right. We must look to God as our authority and submit to man as to the Lord.... always under His authority.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
ReplyDelete