Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, Romans 13:1 

 

Be subject to the higher authorities 

 

Obedience is one of the greatest virtues of Christian morality. You should know whom you should obey. 

 

First of all, you need to obey God,… that is the prime most commandment. Then, you have to obey those who are kept above you ,..by God.

 

 

Paul says, “Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject,”

—imagine, you should have been born 50 years earlier than your parents, then, you wouldn’t be expected to obey them al all. …So, there is an order that has to be maintained. 

 

Parents have a right over for the children; ….employer has a right over the employee; ….the ruler of the nation has right over the citizens; ….the boss of a big organization has right over its staff members ,or its subordinates. 

This, you cannot violate. A senior officer has a right over his junior ones. It has to be followed, only then an order will be maintained. 

 

 

“For there is no authority except from God,”—This is something hard to comprehend. ...Sometimes seeing people above us, we wonder if these people have authority from God at all, ….for the way they behave, for the way they treat us, …..the decisions they make.., especially in the political arena. 

 

God sometimes allows His people to be under some authorities, even though He Himself would not want that to happen. 

It’s about disciplining (chastisement of) His own beloved children. He lead them to Egypt to be under Pharaoh, for about 400 years and more. Same Israelites were under Nebchadnezzar. They were always, i.e whenever they were disobeying God, there were some who were given authorities to rule over people of God. 

 

So, Paul continues saying,”the authorities existing are appointed by God,”

—whether you like it or not, it is divine plan… At this moment, at this juncture, somebody else is kept above you for a particular reason. 

 

You may not know everything clear and vivid, but there is definitely a plan behind, an appointed plan from the Almighty God. He knows that  you should be under this father,.. this mother, ..this husband, ..this boss,.. this ruler. 

You cannot question Him. He has reasons. If you are lucky, you would be able to identify in the course of time, the cause for us that, however be subject to the authorities.  

 

Loving Father, Thank You for keeping us under the authority of people. Like Your Son who obeyed perfectly, let us also subject ourselves willingly to the authorities, and know the plan and will of God and complete it , a long with the help of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Most Mighty Name, Amen.