“Authorities”

BIBLE READING: Romans 13

               Reading this chapter reminds me of our annual updates with Wayne Barrier.  I remember Wayne saying one thing in particular when he was discussing the work in China.  He said something to the effect of the government there didn’t have a problem with the preachers they were training to teach the Bible because those who became Christians were good citizens that didn’t cause problems for them.  He relayed that this allowed them to spread the Gospel more effectively.

               On the other hand, we live in the age of a 24-hour news cycle, where, if someone who works for the government sneezes, we have people discussing if he should’ve used his elbow to cover his mouth, or a Kleenex, and what was wrong with the consecutive sneezes, and why the Secretary of State didn’t say, “Bless you” after the sneeze, and so on and so forth.  It is easy to get distracted by the (for lack of a better word) “circus” that can be around our government sometimes.  However, we are commanded to be subject to them.

               Why?  Because they ensure our safety.  Could you imagine trying to spread the Gospel in complete anarchy?  In our society, if people don’t like what you say, they say mean things about you, or yell, or maybe throw something.  If there were no governments, imagine what could happen if you presented the Gospel and they didn’t want to hear what you had to say.  Ouch!  How much more unwilling would we be to share the Gospel?  Take a few moments today and pray for those who work in our governments, here, and around the world.  They are more important than we sometimes think.  2 Timothy 2:1-2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”