Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. – Romans 13:1
Authority figures can be really hard to respect at times. Your dad might drive you crazy, your mom might not understand you. Your teachers might come down on you too hard, or maybe you just feel like those in authority over you just don’t deserve your respect because of something they did.
Respecting authority isn’t easy. In fact, it can be one of the hardest things you do. It takes real character, guts and a lot of attitude adjustments to respect those over you. However, we’re challenged in today’s Bible verse to respect those in authority over us. This verse doesn’t tell us to respect those who get you, or those who really seem worthy of respect. It tells us to simply respect those in positions of authority.
Respect means not ripping them to shreds behind their back. Respect means doing your best to have a good attitude even when you might not understand or agree with a decision. Respect means treating those over you with God’s kind of love, whether you feel they deserve it or not.
Challenge yourself today to begin to speak well of those in authority over you. Begin to love them, even when they feel unloveable. Choose to be a person of character and respect the people in authority over you.
