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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 13, 2024 6:51:44 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Romans 13:1-7 ---------- Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.
Devotional ---------- Paul sees government as an institution that God authorizes to run human affairs. Martin Luther spoke of this as the "left" hand of God - the hand that can punish as well as praise, call for justice and punish injustice. This is in contrast to the "right" hand of God - proclamation of forgiveness with no judgment. We often get confused about this.
Prayer ------- Lord, help me live in awareness of your call for justice and your loving grace for my life. Amen
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