The order of faithful obedience is always the same in Scripture: God reveals himself to us, blesses us with his grace, and then asks us to respond with obedience. In other words, God blesses us first and then asks us to obey — grace precedes the call to obedience! God is all-powerful and supreme. He could demand our obedience just because of who he is, but he doesn’t. He has chosen to reveal himself through Scripture, nature, his acts of salvation, and most completely in Jesus. He wants us to know him and respond to him. Our obedience may be difficult. Our call to obey may sometimes be hard for us to understand. However, we know it comes from a Father who has paid an enormous price to redeem and adopt us into his family and has repeatedly proven himself to be gracious and faithful. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3.
November 3
November 2, 2026
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. —Romans 13:1.