Whether we are in the armed forces, working in the business world, unemployed and/or still living at home, we all follow a chain of command. Although one is supposed to receive and follow orders from the person directly above him or her, it is understood that if that person gives orders that are in conflict with the person above them in the chain of command, an appeal is to be made to the one with greater authority.
On Sunday, I asked our children if they would obey their brother and/or sister over their parents. Of course they all answered no because they understand that their parents have more authority than their siblings. Believers must also understand that the Lord has all authority and must ultimately obey His commands. This does not mean that Christians are to be lawless. God’s word is clear that we are to obey the laws of the land, pay our taxes, and be model citizens. In fact, many of the laws in the United States are the same as God’s law; however, believers must understand that if a law was ever past that called for one to disobey the laws of God, that ruling is not to be followed.
On Sunday morning, I told our children the story of Daniel and how a decree was past that said that he was not to pray to anyone, but King Darius. Daniel disobeyed this decree because God’s law is clear that His people are to have no other god’s before Him (Exodus 20:3). Because of Daniel’s disobedience, he was thrown into a den of lions. God, however, overruled this decision and sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
There are two important truths from this story. One is that the Lord has all authority and His word is to be obeyed above all others. The second is that obedience to God results in a non-guilty ruling; no matter the accusations. A better example than Daniel is that of Christ. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by men, but raised to life by the Father on the third day. During his sermon at Pentecost, Peter affirmed, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death” (Acts 2:22-24).
On Sunday, I asked our children if they would obey their brother and/or sister over their parents. Of course they all answered no because they understand that their parents have more authority than their siblings. Believers must also understand that the Lord has all authority and must ultimately obey His commands. This does not mean that Christians are to be lawless. God’s word is clear that we are to obey the laws of the land, pay our taxes, and be model citizens. In fact, many of the laws in the United States are the same as God’s law; however, believers must understand that if a law was ever past that called for one to disobey the laws of God, that ruling is not to be followed.
On Sunday morning, I told our children the story of Daniel and how a decree was past that said that he was not to pray to anyone, but King Darius. Daniel disobeyed this decree because God’s law is clear that His people are to have no other god’s before Him (Exodus 20:3). Because of Daniel’s disobedience, he was thrown into a den of lions. God, however, overruled this decision and sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
There are two important truths from this story. One is that the Lord has all authority and His word is to be obeyed above all others. The second is that obedience to God results in a non-guilty ruling; no matter the accusations. A better example than Daniel is that of Christ. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by men, but raised to life by the Father on the third day. During his sermon at Pentecost, Peter affirmed, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death” (Acts 2:22-24).
