Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 13

Highlight Verse:

“For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I finally figured out how to not get any traffic tickets – obey the traffic laws.

But seriously, I always wondered how Paul could write this as a follower of someone who was crucified for rebelling against authority.

But then I remember that Jesus was God, the ultimate authority.

Beyond that, Jesus submitted to earthly authorities where they aligned with God’s will. That included submitting to carrying the cross and being crucified.

Paul also submitted to authority to the point of imprisonment and death. He never stopped preaching, but he submitted to the earthly consequences for obeying God.

They did not ignore earthly authority. They respected it. They obeyed God. But when earthly authorities punished them for obeying God, they submitted.

Have you ever had to choose to obey God in defiance of earthly authority?
What happened and why?