Romans 13

Summary
Today’s reading gives insight into why we should submit and honour authorities because all authority has God’s permission and they exist by His appointment. It is therefore important not to resist any authority otherwise we will be resisting God’s divine order and we will be made to face the consequence.
He furthered advised believers not to owe anyone anything except love and warned against shifting our focus off Christ but to hold on to Him that the world may through us see Christ.

Life Application
Often times we forget this command by God to submit to authorities because we are sometimes carried away by our emotions. We are spirit beings and mustn’t allow our emotions rule us; rather as children of God we should pray for our leaders to be led to achieve God’s will.
We should also learn to love indeed and not in words because we are God’s representatives.

Personal Declaration
I will be led by the Spirit of god and not my flesh that I may fulfill the Lord’s command.

Reading – Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject 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, whoever 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 you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents 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 as a matter 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 to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already 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 carousing 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 flesh.^[c]

Footnotes:

1. Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
2. Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
3. Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.