1 Peter 2:13,18-20 (NKJV) “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme. 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.”
This is applicable to any of us who are under an institution, government, king, or employer. Ranking or positions in any organization is God’s ordained structure of authority. God takes it personally whether we submit to someone that He has set over us. We are to submit to them as the Lord instructs us even when we have been doing good and yet suffer for it, because this is commendable to God. At best, it is not easy for the flesh to submit, but to make the matter worse, the Lord said to submit to those who are harsh! You may wrongfully and experience grief. But God will vindicate you.
Hebrews 13:7,17 (NKJV) “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
People are generally rebellious against authorities and people who rule because the flesh does not like being told what to do. But in the case of Hebrews 13, the authority referenced belongs to a preacher or teacher of the Word, and the Word encourages us to obey and submit. Why? Because pastors watch out for our souls. Ultimately, it’s at least in part for our well-being that we have been instructed to submit.
Beware the pride that arises in the soul, at times it is very subtle. It is not easy to submit when the person that you are supposed to submit to is less capable or educated than you. To be able to submit to authority we must also understand and separate the person who is in authority and the position of authority itself. It is easy to submit to a person who is nice, full of knowledge and capable, but it is very difficult to submit to someone who is not that easy to work with or who is harsh. If he is harsh, brash and difficult, then it is God’s job to deal with him.
It is important that we understand that we still need to submit to that person, if only because he occupies a position of authority and we are not. If we separate the position of authority from the person in authority, then it may be easier to submit to the person in authority; though we may have difficulty submitting to a person who is incompetent or harsh, we will find it easier to submit to a position of authority. To submit, we have to yield our will. God will give us grace to do so.
Sermon Series: King David’s Men
愿意顺服
彼得前书 2:13,18-20 你们为主的缘故，要顺服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王。你们作仆人的，凡事要存敬畏的心顺服主人；不但顺服那善良温和的，就是那乖僻的也要顺服。倘若人为叫良心对得住上帝，就忍受冤屈的苦楚，这是可喜爱的。你们若因犯罪受责打，能忍耐，有什么可夸的呢？但你们若因行善受苦，能忍耐，这在神看是可喜爱的。
这个原则可以应用在我们任何人身上，不论我们是在一个机构、政府、君王或雇主之下。在任何组织内的排名或位份都是上帝所设定的权力结构。对于我们是否顺服那位上帝放在我们之上的人，神是看重的。我们要按上帝所吩咐我们的去顺服他们，即使当我们因为做好事而受苦。因为这是上帝所嘉许的。肉体顺服已经不容易了，但更难的是上帝要我们顺服那些乖僻的！你可能被错怪而经历忧伤，但上帝将会为你平反。
希伯来书 13:7,17 从前引导你们、传上帝之道给你们的人，你们要想念他们，效法他们的信心，留心看他们为人的结局。你们要依从那些引导你们的，且要顺服，因他们为你们的灵魂时刻警醒，好像那将来交账的人。你们要使他们交的时候有快乐，不至忧愁；若忧愁就与你们无益了。
一般而言人们会对抗有权柄和管辖他们的人，因为我们的肉体不喜欢听命于人。但在希伯来书，权柄指的是牧师或传道者，圣经鼓励我们要听从顺服。为什么？因为牧师为我们的灵命守望。最终，那是为了我们的好处才吩咐我们要顺服。
我们要意识到在灵里滋生的骄傲，有时候，骄傲是不明显的。当你需要顺服的对象能力比你差或受的教育比你少，你就不容易顺服。我们要了解并区分掌权者和权位本身。对于一个富有知识和才干的好人，我们容易顺服，但对于一个难于共事或苛刻的人就很困难了。如果他是苛刻、急性子又难搞的人，处理他是上帝的工作。
我们必须了解一个重要的原则：我们需要顺服于某个人是因为对方所占据的权利地位是我们所没有的。如果我们将权位和掌权者区分开来，我们就比较容易顺服于那个掌权者。虽然我们难于顺服一个能力不足或苛刻的人，但对于顺服权位就比较容易。要顺服，我们就得放弃自己的意愿。上帝会给予我们恩典来做到。
讲章系列：大卫王的勇士
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