Latest Devotion
The Ultimate Authority
By: Wendy Sanders
Friday, June 5, 2026
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8
We've all been under someone else's authority. Many of us have probably been in a position of authority. Honestly, being the "person in charge" is a heavy responsibility. But if we aren't careful, a position of authority can cause us to get self-centered and prideful.
Another danger is getting overly focused on a dynamic person in authority. When we're in awe of the person or the position, we can easily lose sight of what's important. As Christ followers, we can't put our political or spiritual leaders on a pedestal... If we do, we are turning them into a modern-day version of an idol.
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8
God’s Word compares people to grass and flowers to remind us that nothing lasts. Famous people and authoritative figures come and go, but God's Word and God's promises will outlast them all. God tells us to obey and respect human authority, but Christ followers have a higher authority, the one that comes from God.
Throughout scripture, we see leaders who walked with the Lord, and leaders who did evil in His sight. It's likely that each of us will face "bad authority" at some point in our lives. Maybe some of you are struggling under that scenario right now. If that's you, what should you do about it?
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13 & 17
Those are tough verses especially when the person in authority isn't honorable. When we're under a "bad leader", unless they ask us to do something that would compromise our faith, we must submit to the authority of their position. If that seems hard, think about who was in charge politically (in authority) when Jesus walked the earth. Daniel served under unbiblical authorities too, and he only took a stand when they asked him to worship their false god.
If you are under the authority of someone that doesn't seem to be honoring God, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your next steps. He may prompt you to leave, or Like Daniel, God may tell you to stay put so you can be an example for others!