From the Home Place

May 6, 2026

Good morning! It’s a whopping 16 degrees out there – no apples on our tree this year. Today’s high should be around 53 degrees, and if the prediction is correct, no more frost until Fall???

Allow me to jump back upon yesterday’s soap box for a tad bit longer. God does not ask us to “submit” because He doesn’t trust or like us. He commands us to do so, “Why?” May I suggest:

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read, “All Scripture is inspired by God…” The Greek here gets really tricky, the word translated “All” literally means “All!” It doesn’t mean some, it doesn’t mean the parts in Red, it doesn’t even mean most, it means that “all” of Scripture is “inspired by God.” As such, you have often heard me say that the best proof text for understanding a portion of Scripture it the rest of Scripture. (That which is “inspired by God,”) cannot, will not, contradict or conflict with itself! As such, I ask you to grab your Bible and go on a journey with me.

Back to yesterday’s two primary Scriptures, Romans 13:1-2 and Ephesians 5:22, both speaking of submission. Let’s use the Ephesians 5:22 passage to shed some light upon the Romans 13 verses for us; hopefully better understanding and obeying both before we finish today.

Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, be subject to your own husband, as to the Lord.” Remember, proper order is the priority. So now, using other Scripture to help us understand the passage before us at the moment, turn to 1 Peter 3:1, “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives.” First, Ephesians 5:22 was penned by the Apostle Paul and 1 Peter 3:1 was penned by the Apostle Peter, both writing under the influence of the Holy Spirt. And you thought that being under the influence was illegal! 🙂

As I have mentioned before, to understand 1 Peter 3:1, you have to first read and understand 1 Peter 2:21-25, revealing to us how Jesus submitted Himself to the headship of the Father. And then the Spirit states, “In the same way, you wives.” Once again, proper order is priority!

Don’t allow personal opinion to overrule Scripture. For as God the Father asks “wives” to submit by following the example of Jesus Christ, He also asks all Christians “to be in subjection to the governing authorities,”(1 Pt. 2:13) whether that is within a governing body in our nation, state, town or church, by following the example of Jesus Christ. We are also told to submit to employers.

Before your blood pressure reaches an all-time high, look at the second half of 1 Peter 3:1 where it is clearly stated that if a wife does her part, God will do His part by changing the heart of her husband. Could the same principal apply to Romans 13? If we Christians would submit “to the governing authorities,” could it be that God would change the heart of said authorities? Yes, it will take an act of God to bring about such an act of Congress, but we all know that God is faithful all of the time.

Please, let’s be careful not to limit God’s power to transform by our unbelief, or our political preference. When God determines to bring about change, change will take place! That does not mean that I will always like the process, but God will bring about the changes He knows to be the best for the advancement of His kingdom! Which by the way, is always the best.

As I have often said, “the condition of America has little to do with who is in the White House, and everything to do with who is in God’s house!” Oh yah, one more Scripture, when “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Proper order is priority!

Once again, God lovingly waits for His people to make the first move, and “when” we do, “then” He does His part. This seems to be a true principal with most all things except salvation; God made the first move there and now we get to do our part.

So, wives submit, Christians submit, Americans submit, first to God, and then watch what He will do! Remember, proper order is priority, submit to God first, and then to those “in authority.” Obedience leads to blessing, not the other way around.

Keeping things in proper order with you, Neal

Oh, by the way, submit does not mean surrender, you still have a voice. Just make sure that your voice matches with God’s word; then watch what you can do! “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)