# 22 2016 Dev Rom. 13:4-5The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Romans 13:4-5
“4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
These two verses are part of a larger section labeled “Submission to Governing Authorities” Ch. 13. Paul is speaking to the church in Rome about the Roman government in control of the city and controlling most of the known world at that time. This is a hard saying to accept but we should not take it out of context. The government was unjust, anti Christian, adhering to multiple God’s and Caesar was considered divine.
The context is verse 1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God holds leaders accountable to do good and to do justice. There was a lot of good done by the ruling authorities, such as the “rule of law” at that time but Paul opposed the ruling authorities when he and Silas were treated unjustly. Christians opposed the ruling authorities when told to burn incense in order to proclaim Caesar as the “God”. Many people died for their faith and Paul was executed as well.
What about today? We have a secular government that guarantees religious freedom but also allows things that Christians oppose because they are against God’s law. Followers of Jesus know what they are. Right now the political gridlock of the US leadership has rendered the Government ineffective in dealing with problems that should be dealt with. The political outlook for the future is particularly unnerving with what are three difficult choices for a new President. What are followers of Jesus to do? We do what God’s Word tells us to do.
We turn to the verses for the week in the context we find it. We have hard choices ahead but this is not the first time. Way back during war times people got drafted and joined up but we all/I had to make a decision. For me this verse spoke as it did for many others and we celebrate and honor those decisions on May 30th. We ask God to guide us into the choices ahead. Praise Him!
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