JULY 29, Romans 13:1-2 

In this chapter, Paul taught Christians that they must submit to the government. During this time, the Jews were under the rule of the Romans, and this instruction must have been a very tough one for the Christian Jews to follow.

Interestingly, He did not tell them to overthrow the Romans. The reason given is: God’s power to rule is passed to different groups of people. To the country, He passes the power to a government; to a family the parents; to a school the principal and teachers; to a church the Board of Elders. To defy and rebel against these people in power is actually to rebel against God!

What lesson can you learn today? That you are to submit and obey your parents, your teachers, and your leaders in church. Often, we tend to obey our teachers more than our parents. That is wrong. As children, learn to appreciate and love your parents, and one of the best ways to show appreciation is to obey them!

So the next time you feel like murmuring and complaining against these groups of people, remember, you are murmuring and complaining against God!

Instead, we must pray for them, that they will have the fear of God in their heart and have the wisdom to rule correctly.

Are your parents Christian? If yes, thank God. If not, pray for their salvation. If you are the only Christian at home, God has given you the opportunity to witness to your parents and the best way to do so is to obey them, willingly!

Thought: May I learn to obey and appreciate authorities!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Ruler of this whole wide world, may You give people in our government the fear of God in their hearts to rule wisely and not sin against You. For my parents, I pray they will be godly people and for me, I pray that I will learn to love and obey them more. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.