Romans 13:1-3

Romans 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Sometimes government is good and sometimes it is not. But we should always obey the authorities over us. God has given us governments so that we can live peaceable lives. But if the authorities go against what the Bible says, we ought to obey God rather than the ungodly rulers. In America, if the government passes laws that are against Godly principles, we should work to have them changed. That is our responsibility as Americans. But we should not just disobey laws that we disagree with. That is what our verses are talking about. But we should always obey God rather than men. God is our ultimate authority. Someday we will have to answer to Him.

Romans 12:20,21

Romans 12:20,21 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. In 1569 Dirk Willems was tried and convicted as a Christian under the harsh rule of the Duke of Alva in The Netherlands. He escaped from prison by making a rope out of knotted sheets and ran to freedom over the thin ice of the castle moat. A prison guard chased after him only to break through the thin ice. The guard cried out for help as he was sinking into the icy waters. Dirk had compassion and returned to help the guard to safety. But by returning, Dirk was recaptured and locked up in a more secure place. He was later burned to death for his faith in God. To this day, the people in Asperen still respect the memory of Dirk Willems. He helped his enemy and left a good example of how a Christian ought to behave.

Romans 12:19

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Two days ago we talked about Holy Joe and how he returned good for the evil that was done to him. Our verse for today tells us the reason why. We do not have to get even with someone and take care of ourselves. And the reason is, that there is an all-knowing God in heaven Who sees all and knows all. When someone is mean to us, God sees it and God remembers it. When we are kind back to the mean person, God sees that too and God remembers it too. We don’t have to get even with people because God is the One who will get even for us. God sees all and knows all and will eventually repay good and repay evil. Someday God will reveal everything that is now hidden. Let God take us!

Romans 12:18

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Some people are hard to get along with. Sometimes we are even hard to get along with! Our verse for today says that we should do our best to get along with everyone. But that may not be possible. There may come a time when we must be truthful with someone about their sinful ways. If someone disagrees with God or His written Word, the Bible, we may not be able to get along with them. They may not like to hear the truth of God’s Word. They may not like to hear that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. But even when we speak the truth, we should say it in a kind way. Even if we have bad news, we should be kind in the way that we deliver it. Our verse says that we should be peaceable – as much as we can.

Romans 12:17

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Have you ever had someone do something mean to you? It could have even been your brother or your sister! Didn’t you think, “I am going to get them back!” That is what the word recompense means. It means to get even. But if we get even with someone, what are they thinking about? They are thinking of how to get even with us! And then we have to get even with them. And then they have to get even with us. Well, you see where this is going. The getting even never ends. We just keep fighting and trying to get even. But our verse says that we should stop trying to get even. Our verse even says that when someone does something bad to us, we should do something good to them in return. That would stop the getting even, wouldn’t it? Our picture for today is from the Holy Joe tract. Joe was in the army and a good Christian example. One night he was on his knees praying by his bed and his wicked friends threw their boots at him. But what did Joe do? Did he get even? No, he didn’t! He took the boots and polished them! Holy Joe stopped the getting even cycle. He was a good Christian example. And we should be too!

Romans 12:16

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. What are your friends like? Do they have a lot of nice things or not very many nice things? The most important thing is not what they have but who they are. If you have two friends and one has great things to play with, and the other does not have very much stuff, our verse tells us to treat them both the same. Our verse even goes on to tell us not to mind people who have a lot of stuff! Always remember that a lot of stuff does not make a person good or bad. The things that someone has does not make them fun to be around or not. Our verse even says to be kind to others who do not have very much. That is what our verse means when it says, “men of low estate.” People who have a lot of things are usually trying to impress others with their things. But it is more important to find out what a person is like on the inside. Life isn’t about the things that we have; life is about who you really are on the inside. Your heart is what counts.