one nation under God!

This morning on the way to work I heard someone talking about the passage from Romans 13 in which Paul tells us we are to be in submission to the authorities. I know the topic was planned for today because of the inauguration but for some reason hearing that passage again made me really think about what God is asking us to do. No matter whom we voted for or whether we voted at all, now that the election is over and a new president has been sworn into office we are supposed to be in submission to this new government.

Romans is the only book written by Paul without a specific reason. He did not write Romans to a church or group of people as he did his other books or letters. Even with that in mind I feel today as if Paul wrote the first section of Romans 13 just for me, especially for today.

Most of us know that Paul tells us to pay our taxes which most of us do because we are law abiding citizens of this great country. Verse 5 states "Therefore, (or in conclusion) it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." Paul continues in verse 7 to say, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." NIV

I guess what I am trying to say is that no matter whom we did or did not vote for we are to show respect and honor to our leaders in office. We are a united nation under God.