I Bet You’re Thinking, "Could Things Get Any Worse?"

October 12, 2018

I Bet You’re Thinking, "Could Things Get Any Worse?"

Romans 13:1–5

Alana Bell

Central Truth

God is so sovereign that He uses wicked people in positions of leadership for His own glory.

Submission to the Authorities

1 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.

As I write this, my husband is watching "The Jihadis Next Door" on Netflix about Muslims in England who are fighting against anyone in government who isn’t Muslim, and I just watched a "Saturday Night Live" clip online mocking every move that the President makes. I’m not trying to make any negative or positive statements regarding our government here, I’m just repeating what I am hearing all over the news.

If you look at our government today, most people think that things are hopeless, and there’s not really anything they can do to change it. I would encourage you to look back at your Old Testament. Go on, open it up, and dust off the pages. Find the Book of Daniel and read about a king named Nebuchadnezzar who was king over Babylon. Although wicked in his arrogance, he was an instrument used by his Maker to discipline the nation of Israel. Tell me the Israelites back then didn’t think things were hopeless.

Now flip back to the Book of Exodus and read about Pharaoh and how many times the Israelites thought things were hopeless and there wasn’t anything they could do. The moral of these stories is that the Lord is in control. Whether we obey or rebel, the Lord is sovereign over kings and governments, and nothing can happen without His allowing it.

All these examples show how we can find solace in the midst of our current situation no matter who is in control of the government or how bleak things might look because the Lord is in control. He not only knows the end of the story, but He knows how we get there. Now, I may not know much about politics, but I can rejoice and find peace in praying for the leaders of my government at all levels and knowing and trusting the One who truly reigns. We won't always see Him at work, but rest assured, He is the One who guides all our steps and those of even wicked rulers to His own ends!

This month's memory verse

A Living Sacrifice

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

– Romans 12:1–2

1. Where else in the Bible has God used wicked rulers to bring about His own good purposes?

2. Will you commit to praying for your leaders more than you complain about them? Start today!

3. What will you tell your friends and family that you learned from Romans 13:1-5?

4. How can your view of God’s sovereign ability to use good and even evil change your outlook for your future?