Remember: Obey Authority!

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” (Titus 3:1-2)

The Christians on the island of Crete needed a reminder. They needed to hear something again that they had already heard. What was it? “Be subject to rulers and authorities.” Obey authority!

That reminder was necessary because it wasn’t what those Christians wanted to hear. Like most of the world, Crete was part of the Roman Empire. After millennia of independence, the Cretans became subject to Rome in 69 B.C. By the time Paul wrote this letter, the Cretans had suffered from over 100 years of foreign domination. They were ready to be done with all things Roman…

So Titus needed to remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities—even their Roman oppressors. Why? The Bible teaches that all rulers and authorities ultimately receive their power from God (see Romans 13:1-7). Even though the authorities are often pagan and ungodly, showing obedience to government is a powerful way for Christians to show their love and trust in God. 

Of course, that obedience to authority has a limit. If governing authorities command Christians to do something that violates God’s commands, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Yet, Christians aren’t eager to find reasons to dishonor their government. Instead, they are eager “to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

Those instructions guide Christians in every aspect of life in our unbelieving world. Do you want to make an impression on those in power? Submit to them and obey them. Do you want to let your light shine for Jesus? Be the first one to step in and do what is good. Do you want to stand out from the people around you? Don’t talk bad about anyone. Do you want to make a difference in your community? Consider the needs of others above your own needs and always be peaceful and gentle to everyone.

Do you need that reminder today? No matter who the authorities are, God put them in their positions, and he knows what he’s doing. Trust the true King enough to be subject to the rulers and authorities.

Dear Christ the King, it’s hard to submit to human authorities, especially when they seem so ungodly. Fill our hearts with trust in your plan for this world and lead us to obey the rulers and authorities. Amen.

Pastor Nathan