Good morning, Lord

50 Commandments of Jesus

38. Render to Caesar—Matthew 22:19–21

Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Good morning, Lord, please help us give as You commanded, not just money, but also the honor and respect due the authorities. Help us honor You by honoring our leaders, praying for them and their families. 

We may not personally care for our rulers, but compared to the authorities in 33 AD, we are pretty blessed. But Your command isn't about them is it, nor about their use or misuse of authority or taxes, it's about honoring an institution You created, like the family and the church, for specific purposes and ends. 

We pray for our brothers and sister in Christ in places like Egypt and Sudan and South Sudan and North Koreas, all places where authority has gone awry, please help them trust Your sovereign control, even in the midst of turmoil and horrific abuses. 

Amen

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Romans 13:1-7

Submission to the Authorities

 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him:If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Acts 23:5

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written:‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'"