May 19th, 2024
Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
The default posture of Christians toward earthly authorities ought to be
The three earthly institutions God has ordained are the
Submission to earthly authorities is grounded in God’s ultimate authority, which makes it a
Romans 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
The government is given the power of the
God’s design is for these institutions to work
Romans 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Submission to our governing authorities is a matter of
THE PAUSE: 10 MINUTES WITH GOD
MONDAY | SUBMISSION
PASSAGE: Romans 13:1
PAUSE: The command for Christians to be subject (ie: submissive) to the authority of government may be one of the more surprising commands in the New Testament. And maybe one of the more controversial. But there it is!
PRAYER: Lord, I could make a long list of my concerns and disagreements about government and politics. Help me to understand why You have given this command and then help me to fully obey it. Amen.
TUESDAY | RESISTERS JUDGED
PASSAGE: Romans 13:2
PAUSE: Resisting authorities equals resisting God and it comes with consequences from both!
PRAYER: Lord, help me to respect the offices of authority You have put over me even when I might be struggling to respect the person(s) in those offices! Help me to look past them and see You. Amen.
WEDNESDAY | DO GOOD
PASSAGE: Romans 13:3-4
PAUSE: Mamma used to say, “If you do what is right you don’t need to worry about getting in trouble.” The opposite is also true!
PRAYER: Lord, help me to learn Your ways and help me to walk in them with Your strength. Help me to find the good that You want me to engage in and I will commit myself to living out that good. Amen.
THURSDAY | CLEAR CONSCIENCE
PASSAGE: Romans 13:5
PAUSE: Since God has established government as an authority we are to submit to, we must walk in submissive obedience in order to live with a clear conscience.
PRAYER: Lord, I commit to live my life with integrity concerning all things, including all my dealings with law and government in order that I might live with a clear conscience before You! Amen.
FRIDAY | GOD & TAXES
PASSAGE: Romans 13:6-7
PAUSE: You do not have to agree with everything the government spends your tax money on. In fact, you never will. But agreement is not a requirement for us to honor God in paying our taxes.
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the many good things the government does with our taxes to better our society and keep it safe. Help me to be way more prayerful for our government leaders. Amen.