QT 12/28/2024 Rom 13:1-7, No Peace for man of his own accord

Romans 13:1–7 (ESV) —

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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.

 

NOTE: "… for rulers are … God's servant for you good…" Having just witnessed an election in the USA that went from one extreme to the other, it seems hard to believe that it is the same God who allowed each to assume power. The problem is not God's apparent fickle choices, but our failure to see the larger picture. God doesn't really care much about politics except as it leads to an end times finale, followed by 1000 years of Jesus' reign on earth. There is no system or political party which can achieve the peace we all desire. As the song says,

 

"For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

…

"God is not dead, nor does He sleep

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men."

 

There will be no government solution to this world's ill, except to repent of our rebellion to God's rule which began in the garden. When Jesus returns and reestablishes his rule, then we will see what God had always planned. Things may not look right or good, but in God's big picture, he is working. We need to live for God and do what is right until He comes again.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I still believe that humans alone are capable of creating a harmonious government?
2. Am I still in rebellion? Or have I yielded to his rulership over my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't know the plan, only the end states. Help me to obey and trust as you bring your plan to fulfillment.