In reading 2 Peter 2 this morning, I realized something about myself: I have problems with authority. Particularly, I realized I have trouble submitting to authority, at least, doing so without grumbling.
2 Peter 2 gives a general description of the false teachers who were threatening the church at the time. One of the characteristics of the false teachers is that they would deny the authority of The Lord. Peter cites the extreme example of submitting to authority is the archangel Michael refusing to even speak ill of Satan, leaving that kind of condemnation to The Lord, with whom it belonged. Reading that made me realize that I have trouble submitting myself to authority in humility, even to The Lord.
It also reminded me how patently unwise it is for us to ever engage Satan directly. Rather, we ought to run and hide ourselves in The Lord's protection when Satan or his demons come calling. Satan will look for any way to get at us, and the Epistle of James admonishes us to resist Satan, and he will depart from us, by submitting by God (4:7).
Submitting to God carries a lot of things, but one we should remember is protection, namely spiritual protection not only from temptation but also the tempter.
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