Day 20 - Dealing With The Government

The Almighty God - The Omnipresent God - The Lion of Judah

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. - Romans 13:1

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Government is a difficult topic to discuss these days. Historically, humans have struggled to exercise authority within government effectively. Each generation has faced corruption and injustice, often caused by those in power. The history of government does not inspire confidence in human integrity. Nonetheless, God deemed it necessary to include Romans 13:1 in the eternally unchanging testimony of His Word. God understood the nature of government when He commanded that everyone should be subject to it. He gave this command and set an example Himself. God appointed Caiaphas, Annas, the Roman guard who beat and mocked Jesus, and Pontius Pilate as governing authorities. All of them were used to facilitate the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. Did Jesus rebel because they had wicked intentions?

It should now be understood that there are times when the government directly orders its people to oppose God’s will and purposes. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were commanded by Babylonian law to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Because this was a direct violation of God’s law, they refused. In Acts Chapter 4, Peter and John were told by the Jewish religious leaders to stop sharing the testimony of Jesus. Since that went against Jesus’ command in the Great Commission, they chose not to obey. Therefore, there are exceptions.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities…”

Still, people are expected to submit to the government, regardless of our opinions about the individuals or the system. We are called to voluntarily place ourselves under the authority of those who hold positions above ordinary civilian life and to respect the roles and purposes they serve. Why? There is no authority except that which comes from God. The authority exercised by these men and women reflects God’s own authority. To rebel against earthly governing authorities is to rebel against God’s authority in heaven. It reveals a critical heart that believes God is wrong to appoint certain individuals to specific roles. Is God ever wrong?

“There is no authority except from God…”

If the power of government comes from God, then God must be giving that power for complex, eternal purposes. Our inability to understand God’s plans does not excuse disobedience or unbelief. God is the One who established the positions that these men and women hold. He had good intentions and will ultimately bring about good results. Remember, God’s power focuses on providing salvation from sin, death, and hell, leading to eternal life. While we might not see how God will bring about salvation through the flaws of government, that doesn’t mean He won’t. The benefits of eternal life come when Jesus Christ – the Lion of Judah – judges all evil, eternally blessing those who believe. No matter how governing authorities exercise their power now, Jesus will ultimately reclaim all power for Himself.  

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Prayer for today

Our heavenly Father, we are grateful to know that You are the source of power behind all government and that one day You will reclaim that power for Yourself. This is a challenging issue for us. Forgive us where our attitudes are misguided regarding these matters. Help us trust that You know what You are doing and focus on the coming of our true King, Jesus Christ. Amen.