Authority

"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. Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you."
Romans 13:1-3 (NIV)

This is a tough teaching I must say. Submitting to authority as God requires. What does it mean to submit to authority? And who is Authority anyway? Well, authority is anyone who has an administrative role over us or someone who exercises leadership over us. This could be an employer, a team leader or a mentor. It could also mean the president, the members of parliament and so on.
Submitting to authority means to yield to the authority that is above you. Meaning that you respect them, and really strive to do as you are told.
God's word clearly states that all authority is established by God and God expects us to respect and obey authority. Do you ever find yourself in conflict with your boss a lot? Then listen to him, he probably has a point. It is good to follow the rules and requirements set out by authority, then there will be no need to fear or to constantly feel like the radar is on you! Do the right thing always!

Blessings!

Transformed

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The only reasonable thing we can do when we think of what God has done for us-reconciling us to himself through Jesus Christ- is to offer ourselves to him wholly and totally. This is our spiritual act of worship. Offering ourselves to him means that we give ourselves entirely to him: our service is to be for him…everything we do or engage in should be for him.

As we offer our bodies, we are to be careful not to allow our lives/lifestyles to be shaped by the patterns (attitudes, thought processes, concerns, ways) of this world. It’s easy to let our lives be shaped by how the world thinks. I mean, we are in the world. We are influenced by it! It’s easy to do or think as the world does.

How can we avoid the patterns of this world? Well, God’s word. As we read, study, meditate on, listen to God’s word…it sinks into our minds and hearts such that we are able to do exactly what God wants us to do. It will be easy to know and distinguish the pattern of this world and what God thinks. As we engage ourselves daily in God’s word we are continuously transformed. Our thinking processes are changed. We begin to think as God wants us to think. God’s word shapes our thinking processes.

The key is to offer ourselves daily to God and to allow his word to transform us.