Obedience Is A Sign of Love

Listen to This Article

John 14:15

"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

There is a very interesting relationship between obeying earthly authorities and obeying God's authority.  If you stop and think about it, they are actually the same thing.  No one on earth has any authority that hasn't been given to them by God.  Even Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  God, who is the ultimate authority, gives people their authority.  

Sadly, some choose to abuse the power and authority that they have been given.  Even when this is the case, we are still commanded to obey and submit to their authority.  The best example of this is Jesus before Pilate:

The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace.  "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.  "Do you refuse to speak to me?  Don't you realize I have the power to either free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.  Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." -John 19:7-11

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of any crime.  Pilate didn't want to have anything to do with his death.  Yet he still gave the order for Jesus to be crucified.  In this interaction you need to picture the scene:

Jesus has been flogged, almost to death.  He has been beaten and pulverized constantly for the last eight hours.  He is bloody.  His back has been torn to ribbons.  His face is swollen, bloody, and discolored.  His eyes are practically swollen shut.  He looks totally pathetic and defeated.

When Pilate asks this question I picture Jesus just rolling his head toward Pilate and giving this response.

This is the ultimate picture of perfect obedience.  This is a beautiful picture of submission and love.  Jesus submitted Himself to the Father's plan of salvation.  He submitted to the authority that had been given to Pilate.  He loved us enough to do it.  He loved Pilate enough to give him this one last shot at repentance.

Imagine how your life would change if you honored the authorities in your life the way that God commands.  Wives, what if you truly submitted to your husband as to the Lord?  Employees, what if you submitted to your boss's authority the way that Scripture commands?  Citizens, what if you actually submitted to the governing authorities instead of slandering them?

God gives a promise about what our lives would look like:  Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you, and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.  God wants to bless us.  That's one of the reasons He gave us the Ten Commandments.  He wants us to know His expectations so we can strive to live according to His will.  This is how we show our love to God.  

Obedience ultimately come down to this:  Rebellion against any earthly authority is rebellion against God.  The only time it is okay for us to disobey earthly authorities is when they make rules/laws that would make us sin against God.

Here are some sections of Scripture that will help you understand what God's Word has to say on this subject:

• Romans 13
• Ephesians 5:22-33
• Ephesians 6:1-9
• 1 Peter 3
• John 14:23-24

1 Peter 2:13-25

Submit to Every Authority

13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the king as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those who have been sent by him to punish those who do what is wrong and to praise those who do what is right. 15 For this is God’s will: that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Do this as free people, and do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but use it as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.[a] Fear God. Honor the king.

Slaves and Masters

18 Slaves, submit to your masters with total respect, not only to those who are good and kind but also to those who are harsh. 19 For this is favorable:[b] if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God. 20 For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God.

21 Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you[c] an example so that you would follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 23 When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

God bless 

Jason Fredrick