Catechism--Fourth Commandment--Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.
Titus 3:1--Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work
Devotion--When Paul was writing these words to Titus, he was probably saying something that wouldn't have been very popular to hear. Let's face it, authorities are never really all that popular in the minds of most people. While we recognize that they fulfill necessary functions for the protection of society, there is usually a good dose of fear and animosity that gets directed toward them. No one wants to be the person pulled over by the police officer, or sentenced by the judge, or who has to pay taxes to support a government that seems to do as much wrong as good.
But in Paul and Titus' day, authorities were likely even more feared. In many instances, they had the pretty immediate authority to put you in prison or even to have you killed, and the burden of proof was nothing like what we experience today in North America. Indeed, Paul could be telling Titus here to teach the people not only to obey God's mandate to honor authorities, but to take such an action to help preserve their lives.
While we may not face the same dangers from the authorities, we need the reminder that they are still put in place by God. No, they aren't perfect, but they are there for our good and well-being. And that's why part of our life together as Christians involves our encouragement to one another to honor and obey the authorities.
In your life, what kind of opportunities do you have to encourage others to honor the authorities? It may involve teaching your children, or questioning that coworker on why they feel the need to drive recklessly. It may mean that you have to learn a bit about what the authorities actually do so that you grow in your appreciation for their work and service. But what can you do this week to help others grow in honoring authorities?
Titus 3:1--Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work
Devotion--When Paul was writing these words to Titus, he was probably saying something that wouldn't have been very popular to hear. Let's face it, authorities are never really all that popular in the minds of most people. While we recognize that they fulfill necessary functions for the protection of society, there is usually a good dose of fear and animosity that gets directed toward them. No one wants to be the person pulled over by the police officer, or sentenced by the judge, or who has to pay taxes to support a government that seems to do as much wrong as good.
But in Paul and Titus' day, authorities were likely even more feared. In many instances, they had the pretty immediate authority to put you in prison or even to have you killed, and the burden of proof was nothing like what we experience today in North America. Indeed, Paul could be telling Titus here to teach the people not only to obey God's mandate to honor authorities, but to take such an action to help preserve their lives.
While we may not face the same dangers from the authorities, we need the reminder that they are still put in place by God. No, they aren't perfect, but they are there for our good and well-being. And that's why part of our life together as Christians involves our encouragement to one another to honor and obey the authorities.
In your life, what kind of opportunities do you have to encourage others to honor the authorities? It may involve teaching your children, or questioning that coworker on why they feel the need to drive recklessly. It may mean that you have to learn a bit about what the authorities actually do so that you grow in your appreciation for their work and service. But what can you do this week to help others grow in honoring authorities?
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