August 18, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 13 (NIV)
Submission to Governing Authorities
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. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ......Continue Reading
Romans 13
“Love your neighbor as yourself” Simple words but not so simple to follow. This world’s expectations of what we deserve or what is owed to us is staggeringly selfish at times. If we truly treated other the way we hoped to be treated we would lavish them with love and attention! Jesus was an example of putting others first and while we can be “nice” to others are we really following His example of putting their needs even before our own.
Lord help me to truly follow this commandment daily!
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21 NIV
https://romans.bible/romans-12-21
“The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:9-10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.13.9-10.NIV
Imagine Paul writing this to the church in Rome who was well aware of the excesses and abuses of the Roman government. I am sure Paul was to considering him being a citizen from his upbringing. At times we are to obey God and not men when government steps over the line and inhibits our ability to worship God and spread His gospel or begins to intentionally harm people instead of helping them. But our default is to be what is instructed here. And as if obeying government because of conscience and fear of punishment wasn’t enough, Paul hits us where it really hurts: taxes. Pay those too? Yes, pay those too especially when we have far more say in what happens than the those paying taxes to Rome.
And yet our greatest debt is to love people especially as the world gets harder to love. See we ramp it up because the day is near or at least nearer than when we first believed. And it is not just about turning away from the wrong, but also turning to the right. And even more substantial than even that is recognizing what nature we are giving lee way to and greater priority. How about the picture of putting on Jesus Christ and not even thinking about gratifying the sinful nature? That is where consistent victory is found…..
It seems harder and harder to discern where the obey government/obey God line is. It seems that our government is not obeying the law, disregarding the Constitution, disregarding justice and/or the penalties set forth, not protecting Americans from foreign entities or even from common thieves.
As believers we know what we out to do.
Love our neighbor.
Be awake.
cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.
walk honestly.
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.