1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,350 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,390 --> 00:00:18,099 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:18,140 --> 00:00:22,780 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by Romans chapter 13, verse 1, 5 00:00:22,780 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: which says, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, 6 00:00:28,940 --> 00:00:32,409 Speaker 1: for there is no authority except from God. and those 7 00:00:32,450 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: that exist have been instituted by God. Naturally speaking, we 8 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: all tend to have a craving for independence. Children seek 9 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: independence from their parents. Employees seek to gain independence from 10 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,100 Speaker 1: their employers. And citizens often express a desire to live 11 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:58,180 Speaker 1: independent of their governing authorities. This isn't something new. It 12 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,620 Speaker 1: seems to be a facet of human nature. but it's 13 00:01:01,670 --> 00:01:06,420 Speaker 1: also possible for that desire to stretch too far. By nature, 14 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: we're sinful, and for that reason, the Lord has established 15 00:01:10,780 --> 00:01:15,470 Speaker 1: governing authorities who have the capacity to encourage order and 16 00:01:15,590 --> 00:01:20,270 Speaker 1: restrain sin. Ideally, it would be nice if all earthly 17 00:01:20,330 --> 00:01:24,929 Speaker 1: governments acknowledged the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ, but that 18 00:01:25,010 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: isn't the case. Even still, the Lord encourages us to 19 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,369 Speaker 1: be respectful toward the authorities that govern us. In addition 20 00:01:34,450 --> 00:01:38,170 Speaker 1: to showing respect to those who have the responsibility to govern, 21 00:01:38,790 --> 00:01:42,890 Speaker 1: Scripture also encourages us to lift our leaders up in prayer. 22 00:01:43,770 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: When we pray for our leaders, we're seeking the Lord's 23 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,860 Speaker 1: intervention in their lives. We're asking the Lord to grant 24 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: them wisdom and character so they can govern fairly and justly. 25 00:01:56,810 --> 00:01:58,630 Speaker 1: What kind of difference do you think it would make 26 00:01:58,690 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: where you live if those who professed faith in Jesus 27 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:06,260 Speaker 1: also took time to pray for and show respect to 28 00:02:06,620 --> 00:02:15,790 Speaker 1: the leaders Christ has placed in their lives? Let's pray. Lord, 29 00:02:15,830 --> 00:02:18,150 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word. And we thank you 30 00:02:18,169 --> 00:02:19,750 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 31 00:02:19,810 --> 00:02:22,829 Speaker 1: read this portion of Scripture together today from the book 32 00:02:22,870 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: of Romans. And Lord, as we look at this portion 33 00:02:25,660 --> 00:02:29,510 Speaker 1: of Scripture today, You show us the importance of government. 34 00:02:30,389 --> 00:02:33,310 Speaker 1: You tell us to be subject to the governing authorities 35 00:02:33,350 --> 00:02:37,170 Speaker 1: that you've placed over us. And Lord, I'll admit in 36 00:02:37,230 --> 00:02:39,910 Speaker 1: my own life that sometimes I find that easy to do, 37 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:43,180 Speaker 1: and sometimes I find it difficult to do. And that 38 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,100 Speaker 1: all depends on the subject or maybe even sometimes the 39 00:02:46,180 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: mood I'm in. But Lord, you've established government for a 40 00:02:50,180 --> 00:02:55,090 Speaker 1: good purpose. By nature, we are sinful. And government is 41 00:02:55,220 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: one of the tools that you use to promote order 42 00:02:57,900 --> 00:03:02,220 Speaker 1: and to restrain sin. So Lord, obviously I don't agree 43 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: with every political leader that I've ever experienced. And I 44 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,500 Speaker 1: have to admit that some people I love their leadership 45 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: style and other people I just don't. But I do 46 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: know this, that there is a day that's coming when 47 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,580 Speaker 1: your son Jesus Christ will rule and reign over this earth. 48 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: And I can look forward to that day. And his 49 00:03:21,650 --> 00:03:25,450 Speaker 1: leadership will be perfect and and His rule will be benevolent. 50 00:03:26,230 --> 00:03:28,610 Speaker 1: And in the meantime, Lord, I believe that it's Your 51 00:03:28,669 --> 00:03:30,870 Speaker 1: desire that I be praying, and that all of us 52 00:03:30,950 --> 00:03:35,220 Speaker 1: be praying, for our earthly leaders to model and resemble 53 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: the heart of Your Son. So Lord, we pray that 54 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,900 Speaker 1: we would do that today, and we pray that we 55 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,580 Speaker 1: would show respect to the leaders that You've given to us, 56 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: and that Your name would be honored and glorified in 57 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,660 Speaker 1: the perspective that we hold toward government. Thank you, Lord, 58 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: for your help with this, and thank you for your 59 00:03:53,660 --> 00:03:57,010 Speaker 1: presence with us today. We commit ourselves to you now, 60 00:03:57,570 --> 00:04:01,940 Speaker 1: and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.