ESOCS Devotional 31 March 2025 – Consequences of Rebelling Against Authority
MEMORY VERSE: “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:2 NIV
TEXT: ROMANS 12:1-15
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient[c] in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
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Do you ever feel that God’s commands are restrictive and oppressive? This is a common attitude in our culture but it’s not one that believers should have. Our heavenly Father’s commands are for our good. They train us in righteousness and protect us from sin. Contrary to the view that God’s law hinders happiness, obedience to Him is actually the source of great pleasure and contentment.
God has set up and arranged a divine order to life. He has established positions of authority in the world to protect and guard its citizens. He uses governments, judicial systems and other civil authorities to bring order and keep peace. These are put in place to protect us. Even a poorly run government is better than the chaos that would exist outside of its safeguard.
When Paul refers to governing authorities, he uses a phrase that can best be translated the powers that be. He is not just talking about heads of state; he is talking about all levels of authority, all the way down to the local police. He tells us that the thing we must think about these governmental offices is that they are, in some way, brought into being by God himself.
As such, when we rebel against those put in place to protect us we are rebelling against God’s institution. As believers we need to understand submission to authority. To live at peace with one another we need to obey those who rule over us. If we do right, we will live without fear of consequences. If we do wrong, we will bring judgment on ourselves justly receiving the penalties for disobeying the law of our land.
Paul said in the previous chapter of Romans that we are to do what is right and live peaceably (Romans 12:17-18). If we make our decisions based on what it good and right, then there is no fear of judgment or punishment because we will be submitting ourselves under the laws put in place to protect us. Living this way is much better than living in the shadow of fear. Paul went on to say in Romans 13, “It is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience” (Romans 13:5). If we do what is right, then our conscience will be clear also.
CHALLENGES
- How do you justify your position in terms of the specific principles taught in the Bible about how we are to relate to government?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, help me to be a good citizen, trusting that you raise up and bring down leaders to accomplish your own purposes, in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Exodus 9:1–18; 9:19–35; Romans 14:1-end
ESOCS Devotional 31 March 2025
