Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. – 1 Peter 2:13
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that all 50 states and the District of Columbia must recognize same-sex marriages on the same terms and conditions as heterosexual couples. Justice Anthony Kennedy’s writing in Obergefell v. Hodges was quite possibly the strongest attack on Christians and biblical values ever written by a sitting justice in a majority opinion. In it, Justice Kennedy accused Christians of hostility for holding firm to a biblical value for the last five thousand years of Judeo-Christianity. That is, God has clearly defined marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
The purpose of the High Court is to determine the constitutionality of a law. Yet, five majority justices in this case interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which was designed to ensure freed slaves were not denied citizenship status, to redefine marriage based on sexual orientation. Essentially, they pushed God’s moral law out of the window and made their own law according to pressure from radical activists.
Acts 5:29 says, “We must obey God rather than men.” So as you pray and read the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to show you His truth when you are confronted with cultural questions and issues. He will give you the wisdom and strength to stand firm. Remember also that the Constitution was created to protect your religious freedom so that you do not have to compromise your conscience. You are accountable to the Creator of the universe above all others.
Pray that judges and Supreme Court justices will seek Him as they make decisions that will affect America’s spiritual and moral foundation.
Today’s Verse: 1 Peter 2:13
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 15:18-27
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
