In The Word
Read: Romans 13
Be Subject to Government
13 Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let’s behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Today, the Word of God speaks very clearly and directly to how God has set up authority on this earth. This chapter starts off with the statement that every person is to be in subjection to governing authorities. Our governing authorities in the United States are police officers, mayors, governors, our laws, judges, president, IRS, etc. If we resist these governing authorities, then we are in opposition of the ordinances of our Father. That is because these governing authorities are ministers of God who carry a sword against those who disobey. If we are acting according to the laws of government, then we should not fear them, for they are here to punish evil doers.
There is a time when we are allowed to disobey the laws of our government. That is when those authorities ask us to do something contrary to God’s Word. This is a time when our disobedience may result in persecution, jail time, or even death. But just like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and many others, we will have the Lord right there with us during these times. He is our defender; when we aren’t ashamed to take a stand for His truth, we can rest assured that He won’t leave or forsake us.
Take time today to pray for the authorities over you, that they may carry out the will of God. Pray also for yourself to operate in submission to them as an example of Christ to them.