April 15

Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

April 15

Read Romans 13

“You are not the boss of me.” Each of my children has expressed this sentiment at one time or another. Each time, Pete and I responded in unison.

“As a matter of fact, we are the boss of you.” Perhaps you know that I like being the boss. But if you know that fact, you also realize that Pete is a happy third born and is just as content when he is not the boss as when he wears the mantle of responsibility of man in charge. So our unified response is not all about wanting to be bossy. It’s more about understanding Romans 13.

Right off the bat Paul issues a firm statement: submit to authority. He doesn’t qualify this with sayings like, “If you like your authority” or “If you think your authority is worthy of your allegiance” – he says simply, “Submit.”

The McBean children aren’t the only people who don’t like people being the boss of them. Most of us dream of being our own bosses and getting our own big scoop of authority. And maybe some day we’ll get some of that authority. But for today, let’s wrestle with our own limitations – how are each of us doing at submitting to our earthly authorities?

Thought for Today: List all the people in roles of authority that you resent and/or fear. Code words: comparing self to others, taking things too personally, fearing rejection, noting an arrogant attitude, feeling inadequate, reacting rather than acting.
I fear ____ because ____. This affects ____. This activates ____. This makes me feel ____.

Thought for tomorrow: I wonder if you are one of those people created to lead others. If so, I suspect you will make a much more effective authority if you know how to live well with your own authority figures. Maybe you never aspire to rule. Whether you want to lead or to follow, it is always appropriate to learn how to live well with authority.

April 15
Teresa McBean