HOW TO HANDLE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES (I)
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1 NIV
Authoritative figures can be both a blessing and a challenge.
We rarely know what someone will become once they are handed power, and history shows that authority can either be used to serve or to oppress. Authority itself is not evil; it is a necessary structure for order. Yet power can corrupt those who lack humility and integrity. This is why Paul’s words in Romans 13 are not a blanket endorsement of every leader’s actions but a reminder of God’s sovereignty.
Positions of authority, whether parent over child, president over a nation, or director over an organization, do not rise apart from His allowance. God permits authority to serve His purposes, even when rulers misuse their power. Our call is not to worship or blindly approve every leader, but to recognize that God remains above all human structures. We submit to authority where it does not cause us to sin, trusting that God can work through even imperfect systems.
When leaders are unjust, we pray for them, seek justice in godly ways, and rest in the truth that no power can overrule God’s ultimate authority.
Prayer: My Father, I trust Your sovereignty even when those in authority seem unjust. I have discernment to submit where it honors You, courage to stand for what is right, and a heart to pray for those in leadership. I know that You alone rule over all, and that Your justice will prevail in the end, in Jesus name. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Daniel 2:20
• 1 Peter 2:13
• Acts 5:29
