Submission

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord, and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

Two verses, one in Ephesians. The other in I Thessalonians.

What shall we say about them?

First, that the grounds of our submission to others is our submission to Christ.

Second, that we should imitate Christ in this, that Christ fully submitted to the will of the Father. Do we count our own thoughts or our own interests as more valuable than others?

Third, that we should acknowledge that there are certain men who have been placed "over us in the Lord." This means that they have God-given authority over us, in so far as their authority is exercised within the will of God.

Fourth, that rebellion and rising up against God is a grievous offense. Respecting what authority is over is respecting God because of his work in placing that authority over us.

Fifth, that authority is good. God is not a God of disorder!