Top X July 18, 2025 Devotional

ROMANS 13:1-4 | ¹ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists authority 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. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval, ⁴ for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.

The balance of Scripture requires I include a passage on the restraint of evil by legitimate public authorities. Communities that don’t value life, that don’t protect the vulnerable and innocent, even when that requires coercion and violent restraint, descend into chaos. In places like Haiti, civil order dissipates. Moral sensibilities collapse and soon might makes right, with laws flaunted. Further, when central authorities disrespect human rights, relying exclusively on coercion and violence to control their populations, they become evil themselves. Forgiveness and mercy are the best ways to represent God’s love and compassion in our personal relationships. But in order to protect the innocent and defend civil order in our broken world, police and armies are necessary, though they must use force within the boundaries of law and justice.

How do you reconcile this passage with Jesus' teaching and example?

Gracious God,

We pray for civil magistrates and judges, for police and prosecutors, for those serving in the armed forces. As they seek peace, give them wisdom about how best to restrain evil in our society and our world.

Amen.