My Biggest Struggle (Romans 13)

Romans 13

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”[a] These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

My Biggest Struggle
This chapter is hard on my heart. Sometimes what we read seems like eating rocks, and this chapter is that way to me. It's convicting and heart-wrenching. I don't get it. I have to submit?

My biggest struggle in life is control. I want it, and I don't want anyone else to have it over me. Just ask the people in my life. I hate being told what to do. I hate it when people bark out orders in my direction. And, when people do this, I usually bark back. I love to rebel. This passage tells me to stop it. This chapter tells me that when I rebel against authority, I rebel against God. And, when I read this, I come up with a million excuses. In my heart I begin to scratch and scream at the fact that I am wrong. Me? Wrong? Yes.

WE all struggle with this. Look at children. We, as kids, would listen to anyone else before we would listen to our parents. Men fight the law, their boss, and God on about every topic. And, lots of women rebel against the entire idea of men having power. We are born rebels. We are born sinners. And, when we do this, we don't only break the law, or hurt our spouse, but we disobey God. That's scary.

Here's the challenge: Submit. C.S. Lewis wrote, "The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self- all your wishes and precautions- to Christ." Submitting to authority is tough, but we must do it. When we submit to the authority that Christ is given, we submit to Christ. There is no better place to be than in the submission seat before Christ. Because when we finally give up, when we let Him take control, He doesn't mess up. Christ deserves our submission. If we really beliveve that Christ is King, Lord, Savior, etc then why don't we trust Him? Wouldn't the Lord of Lords do a better job directing our lives than we do?

Another Struggle
I'm a lot like you. I've been hurt. I have been kicked, dropped, and abandoned. Therefore, I struggle with verses 8-10. Loving others? But, others are the ones who have hurt me. Others are the ones who I trusted, and split. Others? Yea, they are the ones I struggle to simply like, but you say I must love them? Yes.

I struggle to like people, and all of their awkardness. But, I must stop being selfish and bitter. My emotions must move to ones that are full of love and mercy. My feelings must be transformed into ones that reach out to others, not push away. I need to feel about others, the way that Christ feels about me.

We must remember that we put Jesus on the cross. Our sins hurt Him. Our mishaps damaged Him. He could have gotten bitter and mad, but He didn't. He loved us more. He reached out to us with open arms, and without hesitation. And, by this He satisfied God's wrath. By this, He fulfilled the law. We must do the same with others. We must love them with an endless love despite their flaws, because that's how Christ did us.


Get Dressed
Pretend you're going to a ball. One where you will meet the love of your life. It's gonna be beautiful. Big lights, with live music, and great food. Do you wear jeans and a t-shirt? No. Men, you shave up and put on a tux. Ladies, you get all dolled up. You put on your most glittery jewelry, and wear a dress that will take Romeo's breathe away.

In the same way, we need to get ready for Christ. Paul writes that our salvation is closer than ever, and we need to be ready. How? We are to derobe ourselves of our sin and dress ourselves in the presence of God. God doesn't want our hearts to be causual, but He wants to see hearts dressed with Christ. Are you ready?