Our Civic Responsibility by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
DAILY MANNA
MONDAY JANUARY 22, 2024
OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
KEY VERSE: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1).
TEXT: ROMANS 13:1-8
John Calvin, a French protestant reformer, believed that we owe it an obligation to respect and obey our rulers as long as our obedience to their commands does not contradict the laws of God.
Our reading today directs us to our obligations and responsibilities to our spiritual and secular leaders because they are ordained of God. We are to give them high respect and support as much as it lies within our power. Resisting them amounts to resisting the ordinance of God, which will attract damnation from Him. The leaders are directly or indirectly ministers of God to us for good. We are to be subject to them by paying our taxes and rendering to them all our dues and custom, honouring and respecting them.
Whatever is the condition of our society or government activities today, God still commands us to obey and respect the authorities. They may be corrupt; yet, we are to pray for them and never join them in their corruption, even if we have opportunity to serve under them. We are expected to show deference to the government of the day in as much as they rule under the ambit of God’s law. Jesus Christ and His disciples obeyed the government of their day.
Despite the fact that many of them were unjustly treated, imprisoned and denied access to social amenities, they still fulfilled their civic obligations.
It is our responsibility to make our society better. We must pay our taxes, take part in social work, vote during elections and take part in developmental projects in our communities. Our responsibilities in the church of God are just as highly essential; they must be equally carried out with every sense of responsibility.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A true Christian aims to leave where he dwells better than he met it.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ACTS 18-19
