Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1. Everyone must submit himself 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, he who 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 he will commend you. 4. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Love, for the Day is Near.
8. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” [a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Many times we choose to live our lives in the darkness of a sole centered existence. There are many reasons for this. We are usually under the impression that it is a safer way of life. We hide because we don’t want others to really see us as we are. The problem is that our souls need the acceptance and approval from God and others to really feel fulfilled in our lives. This fulfillment is then impossible to obtain as long as we remain in the darkness. Guilt and shame are powerful enemies. If we are guilty, God already knows about it before we confess it, and He accepts us anyway. He only asks that we confess it to him. If we feel shame, God looks past it, and accepts as we are. If God has forgiven you of your guilt and shame, who am I to condemn you for them? I can have the same acceptance for you as God has. This is what grace is all about.
Find a grace filled place where you can feel safe to “live in the light”.
Do you see authority as from God?
Why do we owe a continuing debt to love one another?
How do you feel when the light is shed on your deeds?
Do you feel like you are in a slumber?
How can you clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ?