Be subject to rulers, to authorities, be obedient...

Titus 3 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Godly Living

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ² to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. ³ For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Today’s text begins saying: Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,  to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. We are continuing to progress toward the point where obedience to the rulers and authorities will be at odds with obedience to the word of God and our faith. We need to remember that Paul was writing at a time when he and all those in the early church were under the harsh rule of the Roman government. In addition many of the local authorities were corrupt. We need to not be quick to justify rebellion against authority by our faith. There may come a time when we as believers need to stand on our faith against the demands of the government. But certainly that should not be our default position.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote: First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.(1 Timothy 2:1-4) Prayer should be our default when it comes to our relationship to authorities whether they are just or unjust. Prayer is both our best defense and our greatest offensive weapon. What chance do we really have if we take up arms against a powerful oppressive government? But in prayer: the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful…(2 Corinthians 10:4)       For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm…¹⁸ With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit…(Ephesians 6:12-18) In and through prayer we fight a battle at a higher realm of authority than this earthly realm. We need to remember though that our first call in prayer is not for the destruction of evil rulers. It is for their salvation.  God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Our obedience can also be a testimony to them of our faith. Paul shared his testimony to kings and rulers.

 Even those who stood against the authorities which required them to bow to another rather than God in the Old Testament accounts of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, were subjected to the full authority and consequence of the law for their faith. It was through God sparing and protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego from the flames of the furnace that the victory was won.   Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” (Daniel 3)     In the same way Daniel was spared from the lions, in Daniel 6.        Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound! ²⁶I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever. ²⁷ “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Romans 13:1 says:  Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Daniel 2:20-22 says: “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.
²¹ “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. ²² “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. We need to be confident in the fact that we truly reside in the heavenly kingdom of God. We are only hear in this earthly realm for a short time. Being focused on the things of heaven we can say, like the psalmist, The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?(Psalm 118:6)

Paul changes things up as he closes today’s text. He says: But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. This too points toward our need to be heavenly minded and focused. The genealogies of men are irrelevant. Our inheritance is in Christ. All controversies and disputes about the Law and doctrine are unprofitable and worthless, until we are living according to what Jesus said was the great commandment: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  

Our lives, our prayers, all that we do should not be to change the world for the sake of the world. We should look to heaven and our prayer should be, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The realities of heaven becoming known and manifested here on earth, that’s what matters.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit thank You that I can have the confidence to know that You will never leave me or forsake me. In Christ my place and my inheritance in heaven is secure. What can mere mortals do to me? May my life, my faith and my obedience be a testimony to others of Your goodness. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.