11/12/2019
Katherine
Friends,
Did you know that government was God's idea? Read these words from Romans 13:1-7
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."
What does it mean that the authorities are "ministers of God"? It means that God has given them the job of promoting what is good and punishing what is evil. But how do they know what is good and what is evil? The wise ruler looks to Jesus. She bases her public service on Jesus's example of servant leadership. She looks to Jesus for moral guidance. She immerses herself in his teachings, his life, his thoughts. Her prayer life is rich and vibrant. Her reading material is Scripture. Her hope is in the cross and empty tomb. She can governs because He rules.
In Christ,
Pastor Marty Hufford
Peace Lutheran Church