Every person must obey the government. All authority is from God, and God made the government to reign over us. The person not obeying the government also rejects what God made. And that person will get punished. People doing good don’t fear the government. Those people doing wrong should be afraid. You don’t-want to fear the government? Then do good, and the government will praise you. Romans 13:1-3
The New Testament lesson from last Sunday was from Romans 13 and that is a good lesson for today. Why? Today is Sept. 11, 2020. You remember 19 years ago, the planes crashing into the towers in New York City, crashing into a field in Pennsylvania, and into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Such an awful attack. So much destruction. So many people died. People grieved and they cried out to God.
In that kind of situation, what is the government’s responsibility? Rom. 13 answers that. The purpose of government is to punish people who do wrong and praise people who do right. The government is here to protect its citizens. After 9/11, the government made new laws and started two wars to try to punish the evildoers and protect us. Not everyone agrees with what the government did, but at least in part, they were trying to do their job to protect us.
You wicked person, don’t hide and wait to attack a righteous person. Don’t rob his house. A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. But in a disaster, the wicked people fall. Proverbs 24:15-16
Today, the challenges are different from a terrorist attack: COVID-19, politics, protests, storms, hurricanes, fires. It is still important for the government to be faithful to defend us, punish people who break the law, and praise people who do right. But who should you trust to solve the problems we face? Trust the government? They can help, but they can’t fix everything. Trust yourself and your power? No. The protesting mobs are trusting their power and that’s not going so good.
The only one you can trust is God. He promises that a righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. Jesus died once and was buried and rose alive again. He makes you righteous and He gives you life. No matter how many times you fail, you can rise again in Jesus. No matter how many times a storm knocks you down, you can rise again. No matter how many times people’s hatred and anger hurts you, or sickness isolates you, you can rise again. Because of Jesus. Because you belong to Him and have His life in you.
The government is responsible to protect you and keep law and order. You owe the government obedience and respect. But your life belongs to God. Trust Him to get you through everything we face today. He will make you rise again with Jesus.
God bless you! Please leave comments below!
