Devotion:
Read Romans 13:1-7.
It’s been a long year. Last year, on November 3rd, I acknowledged that we were exactly one year away from voting for our president and other elected officials of our government. We knew it would be a heated political year and it certainly has been that. And much more has developed in our land that have only added to the expected divisiveness. Hopefully, the Bible verses we handed out a year ago have been helpful in guiding you through these days. (It would be a good idea to keep referring to those regularly.)
It is interesting to me personally that this passage comes right after one of my core Bible passages: Romans 12. These verses are a continuation of what Paul was writing there. With these verses, it is important to note that he is writing to a people who hate their government because it is imposing its will on them through military force. Yet, he emphasizes that part of what it means to be the people of Jesus Christ is to respect the government and be good citizens.
In our nation, we have a much different situation. We have the privilege of voting to elect the people who will serve in our government. We have processes in place to address injustice (though they sometimes take far too long). And the message is the same for us: respect the government (even while expressing your disagreements) and be good citizens.
Most of all, do what Paul comes back to in the next verse: “...for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
Personal Worship Option:
Pray for those now serving at all levels of our government and for all those seeking to be elected this week. Most of all, pray that the people of Christ will set a good example of how to treat others, no matter who is elected.
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