God is calling me to submit to authorities
1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
Quick Story: A few years back, I ate lunch with Cooper at his school but I got frustrated. The policy in the school is that parents may only sit with their kid at a special parent table away from the other kiddos. I understand the safety precautions that have to be taken, but I felt as though Cooper was being punished by having to sit with me and miss out on time with his friends. He eats with me every night—it is not that special to him. I shared my displeasure with one of the teachers (a co-worker of Carlin’s) and I thought he was being unnecessarily punished.
As you can see, I don’t do great at following authority. I struggle being boxed in. I prefer to follow rules that make sense rather than rules that just happen to exist.
And then I read 1 Peter 2:13-14. Submit to authority.
Take note, what Peter is commanding is much bigger than what I was just bemoaning.
Peter is writing to persecuted people who are being abused, made bankrupt, ignored, and potentially killed by the authorities and he says SUBMIT.
Peter is writing to people who have lost their home, their business, their connection to the outside world because of their faith in Christ and Peter says SUBMIT.
We live in a divided world that fails to submit. I have read that 16.7 BILLION dollars were spent in previous elections because we do not want to submit to the enemy (I mean the other political party). When we lose, we fight. When we fail, we blame others.
As Christians, we must learn that we will not always get our way. There are places to fight for justice, equality, the overlooked, the hurting, but there are also times to submit. To leaders you didn’t vote for. To bosses who are selfish. To company policies that are unnecessarily limiting.
We follow a greater God than this world can offer. This greater God who is in control commands us to submit. So, even when it is hard, may we submit to the authorities that are over us and seek the good of our world in spite of difference of opinion.
God is calling me to live purposefully
1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
One of the greatest blessings that Carlin and I have experienced in our move to Dallas is the street we live on. We could not have asked for a better group of neighbors. Every day (that is not an exaggeration), we see, talk with, share our life with the people that live around us. We have eaten dinner, planned parties, celebrated birthdays, borrowed tools, and helped out wherever possible. Our neighborhood is a sweet place to live.
We are intentional with our neighbors as well. I know where some of them stand in their faith journey, but not all. So, each day, I seek to interact in a way that Jesus is known and thought highly of. I feel like I get to be a witness of what the church should operate like, how Christians should treat others, and how we are to love.
A few years back, one of our neighbors even said, “We have never had a friend that was a pastor, so we didn’t know what to do or how to act.”
I have tried my best to live both similarly and differently to my neighbors. I want a relationship with our family to feel natural while also feel different because we believe differently. I want them to feel safe while also feel loved.
We are not perfect at it, but our hope is each day to build relationships that point others to Christ. That does not mean we ask “If you died tonight, where will you spend eternity?”, but we model, invite, and open our home and lives to those around us so they may experience the life of faith.
God is calling me to Faith
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God is calling you to follow Him.
Plain and simple.
Jesus desires that all will come to know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus desires that all will be His sheep and listen to His voice. Jesus’ work on the cross was for all. Remember, He even asked for forgiveness for the mocking crowd that was killing Him.
I love this verse in 2 Peter 3 because it reveals that God has not abandoned us, but instead is allowing space for sinners to repent and believe. He does not desire that any should perish and endure eternity apart from Him. Jesus desires that the salvation He purchased on the cross would be received by all in this world.
Have you placed your faith in Jesus?
Has He become your Savior?
Is He your Lord?
As we conclude today, consider when you made the decision to follow Jesus. Reflect on that moment—that time, that instant of recognizing your sin and trusting Him as your Savior. How has that moment shaped the rest of your moments?
If you do not have that story, today can be that day. We read in 2 Corinthians 6 on Sunday: “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” May today be the day you surrender your life to Jesus.
God is calling me to ________
Matthew 6:31–33
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
On Sunday, we wrestled with filling in the blank to the statement: God is calling me to ________. The match is not over. Many of us felt conviction, but we silenced it with Sunday’s lunch. So I pose it to you once more: What is God calling you to do? Better yet, How are you responding to God’s call, conviction, or leading?
Jesus knows that practical fears arise the second we start wrestling through major life questions. He addresses these as He concludes His teaching on anxiety over worldly needs with a call to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” If our minds are set on Christ—if we are living in a manner that serves and honors the Kingdom of God—assurance is given: all the needs you have will be met by God.
Are you seeking first His kingdom or your own? Are you seeking to make Him known or to make yourself and your family secure? Is God calling you to something that you are fearful to respond to?
For those of you still wrestling through what God is actually calling you to, here are a few things that all believers are called to:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27)
Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27)
Make disciples—here and maybe there (Matthew 28:18–20)
Be committed to the church (Acts 2:42–47)
Live in such a way that God is magnified (1 Peter 2:12)
Live in faith (Galatians 2:20)
Submit to authority (1 Peter 2:13–17)
Give of your resources (2 Corinthians 9:6–12)
While this is not an exhaustive list, as you wrestle with God’s specific call on your life, these general calls can be lived out faithfully.
Final Verses of James
James 5:19–20
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
HOPE!
Too often we are too quick to lose hope. To give up. To give in.
Sadly, this happens way too often in the church world. When a person is gone for a bit, we seemingly just write them off in our heads. Something happened, and that something seems to be final.
James is urging us not to give up. Don’t let people simply wander away! Reach out. Care. Stay in contact. Ask questions. Write letters. Send texts. Share truth. Show good. Be the church.
As I write this devotional this morning, a few names have popped into my head. Here is what I am going to do: I am writing a letter (or a text if I don’t have an address) to each of the people who have flooded my brain. I want to share with them how much I have missed them. I want to share with them my hope to see them return—not simply to our church, but to THE CHURCH (while selfishly hoping it is with us).
I read this morning in Luke 12:6–7:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
I encourage you to follow my lead and make a contact today. It may have been a while or too long, but it is worth reaching out. Showing you care. Inviting back into fellowship!
Why? For God can do amazing things, and His grace can cover anything!