Honor Authority, Your Children Are Watching

149 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. (1 Tim 5:17) God likes authority, and He of course is the Supreme Authority with the final say on everything! But He has placed authority in our lives in many different arenas. These authorities are to be honored and respected because of the office they hold. Honor is to be given to our parents who are the first authority figures that we encounter in our lives. Eph 6:2 says, "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise”) In addition we are to render honor to other authority figures such as pastors and teachers. Heb 13:17 says, “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.” Finally, we are also to render honor and respect to secular governmental authorities: Ro 13:1,7, says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Luther summed up the commandment about honoring our parents this way: “Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. It seems we have lost this respect for authority in our nation and we need to turn it around. It starts with us and our children. Teach your children to first of all fear and love the Supreme Authority. (God) Then to honor and respect you. Then their spiritual leaders, and also include the governmental authorities. (Policemen, firemen, and all other civil servants all the way up to the president!) The best way to do this is to set the example. Watch how you speak about and act toward those who hold authority in your life. Your children are watching!