Saturday, December 5, 2009
Calling Him Lord
(I Peter 3:1-6)
“Question Authority” read the bumper sticker proudly displayed on the 1972 Ford Pinto. Surveying the motto as well as the car, I understood there existed a cause and affect relationship between the two. The attitude of the owner obviously brought him to his station in life. You see, questioning authority as an attitude of life simply doesn’t work.
God has established authority figures in each of our lives. Employers, pastors, teachers, directors—a myriad of individuals have some authority in some realms of our lives. For example, as Pastor I have authority in matters relating to the church. As a choir member, the choir director has authority over me in relation to the choir. He and I are under each other’s authority in differing realms. Authority is a part of life; it’s also a part of success.
God commands women to be in “subjection” to their own husbands. The word “subjection” means “to place under authority.” In other words, women are to submit to their husbands. Such submission should not be a grudging conformity to his wishes. Rather, Peter states that submission—Biblically practiced—involves a heart of honor for one’s husband.
Peter cites Sara, Abraham’s wife, as an example. As a wife she wasn’t always perfect. Sometimes her mouth got ahead of her faith (Gen. 18:15). She did, however, demonstrate appropriate respect as she honored her husband. She called him lord (6). In so doing she recognized that he, as her husband, stood in the place of legitimate authority. And in doing so, she became the vessel of the Lord in fulfilling His promises to the Jewish nation and the world at large.
