Title
Honor Authority
Scripture
Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written,‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
(Acts 23:5)
Devotional
There was no rebel in the apostle Paul. His only rebellion was against sin. He always honored authority, no matter how wrong that authority may have been. We on the other hand so readily deride and ridicule those in authority: From the president of our nation to the pastors of our churches, we have lost the respect due, if not the man, then at least the office. When we speak in a disparagingly manner about authority, especially in front of our children, we ignorantly create and condone rebellion. We have made the rebel more of a hero than the loyal, the renegade more respected than the faithful. And we wonder why we are an antagonistic and adulterous generation. We have destroyed the honor and respect due authority, in the political, spiritual, business and family realms. Let us therefore remember, "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people."