Take a moment to read Romans 13:1-7 before reading the devotional below.
Paul has fully transitioned to the application portion of his letter, and he’s continuing to lay out ways that Christians look different than the rest of the world. In light of this main idea that we are to lay down our lives as living sacrifices to God, he explains how followers of Jesus should act to the governing authorities. Keep in mind he is writing to the followers of Jesus in Rome, the center of the Roman empire. These authorities were not often nice to the non-Romans they had conquered. Just as Jesus had taught, Paul reminds these early Christians that the church must be known for peacemaking, not uprising.
In addition to making peace, Paul encourages his readers (including us 2,000 years later) to live in such a way as to keep a clear conscience. If you aren’t sneaking around cutting corners and breaking laws, you have nothing to worry about when the authorities come around. This freedom from fear of getting caught is exactly what life in the Spirit is all about. We don’t need God’s law or human laws to tell us right and wrong — the Spirit of God is always going to lead us in the right direction. So pay your taxes, stay out of trouble, never let anyone have any reason to say anything bad about you.
Here’s your freedom for today: you get to live a different life in the Spirit. Watch the news for about ten minutes and you’ll hear stories of people who are living in fear. They’ve done something wrong and are trying not to get caught. They lie to protect their lies and they think they are invincible. That kind of life is full of stress, pressure, and fear. Nothing is worth having to sleep with one eye open. A follower of Christ can rest peacefully knowing that the Spirit of God has kept them safe from the grip of this snowballing type of sin. If you are experiencing that now because of things in your past, today can be your day to be honest. Start by being honest with yourself, then God, and then one other safe person. Taking those steps might just set you free.