The Glove on God's Hand

1 Peter 2:13-15
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Submission is a difficult thing for me. I have trouble submitting to the LORD who created me, sustains me, and holds my destiny in his hands. And that same LORD is telling me to submit to those in authority with whom I could argue that I have as much right to “rule” as they.

I think that what you’re saying here LORD is that those earthly rulers are like a glove on your mighty hand – an extension of your authority in over my life.

I think of those animal kingdom shows where there is a dominant leader in the pack and the other members know their place. Like one of those animals vying for authority, sometimes I think more highly of myself than I ought and thus I challenge your authority over me. But burned on the canvas of my mind is a picture of the fierce and rightful ruler, hovering over the cowering challenger who knows he’s met his match. Tail tucked in, he’s learned submission through fear. So I too must submit out of reverence for you.

I think of my relationship to my government, to my employer, and to my church. I challenge authority on every level all the time. I may know as much about the issues as a politician; I may have what I consider better insight and education than my employer; and I may even have a more biblical worldview and gifting as a teacher than some pastors. Even so, they are the glove on your hand.

Help me to submit out of reverence for you and for your name’s sake.