Parenting by Design - January 8

Respect for Authority

Rom. 13:1: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (NIV).

While we may not always agree with our authorities, God tells us He has put them in their positions. This makes them worthy of our respect and makes our disobedience to authority actually disobedience to the God who established them. We may find a leader disagreeable, but this does not give us permission to disobey or rebel (unless we are asked to do something unbiblical).

One of the best ways we can influence our children to obey authorities in their lives is to show an example of submission to the authorities in our own lives. When we are respectful of the police officer who pulls us over, the politician on TV or the preacher who preaches a boring sermon, we are demonstrating Christ-like submission to an authority God has placed over us.

Show your children how to respect authority by being respectful and submissive to your leaders.