INTRODUCTION

Perhaps no passage better describes the authority and responsibility given to a country’s leadership than Romans chapter 13. From this passage, it is clear that “the higher powers” are “of God,” and that they are intended to be “God’s ministers.” As such, a country’s leaders are to condone righteousness while also condemning evil. When a person does what is right, the country’s governing bodies should “praise” him, but he should “be afraid” when he chooses to do evil. Why? Because leaders are called to be a terror to evil, bearing the sword of judgment and executing “wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Any country led by men who understand these biblical truths would enjoy a supernatural blessing experienced only by those following the will of God.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): King Artaxerxes gave Ezra permission to return to Jerusalem and to appoint magistrates and judges over the land of Judea. Notice their qualifications and what power they had (Ezra 7:25-26 [25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. [26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
  See All...). Solomon gave us wise advice regarding the sword bearer (Proverbs 24:21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
  See All...a; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5 [2] I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. [3] Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. [4] Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? [5] Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Do the leaders in your country encourage Christians to obey the Bible? Do they punish those who depart from the truth?
• How is it a fallacy to think that all can have and maintain equal rights? What rights do any of us truly possess? From whence do our “rights” originate?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for the opportunities you have to serve Him!
• Ask God to keep you from those desirous of thwarting His work.

HYMN

MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

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