Submissive to authorities above:
”Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:“ 1 Peter 2:18-21 (NKJV)
Many in the work place or in the house justify themselves saying, because my boss is very harsh person or my husband is very rude, so I also cannot submit to them. But the Word of God is clear that whoever is above you in authority one has to obey for that person whom God has put above you. You need not react the same way the other person is dealing with you, you can choose to love the person. Let your obedience and respect be unconditional. This is commendable, this is what God is expecting from us. We are supposed to learn humility and obedience from all these harsh and difficult relationships. This is the work of the Lord God to mould our characters. This we all have to learn and to live a life that God appreciates.
Jesus’ Obedience to God even unto the Cross:
”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“ Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV)
Now a days fear of God has gone out of people’s life, that is why there is no obedience in the house and in the society. Because many stopped believing in God in the heart of hearts. Jesus obeying God took up the form of a bondservant and died a cruel death on the Cross. Our sufferings are not close to anything the sufferings our Lord Jesus went through. So we should learn to simply obey our parents, elders, teachers, husbands and pastors fearing God and give respect, even though they are not good or wise people. Our job is to obey the rules and regulations God has given us to follow. God is the One who sees your heart and gives you justice and reward, so fear Him.
”Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)