Today’s reading is Romans 13: 1-7

Today we see Paul’s encouragement for believers to be good citizens.  This something for us to hear, we, regardless of where we live, be it in America or any other country, should see to be good citizens and make our communities, cities, states, and nations better.  We should pray for our leaders, pray for the good of our communities, and work for the good of our communities.   That makes good sense to us.

But here’s what you need to remember about Paul.  He was not writing to a people that had a government that encouraged them.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  The Roman government was after Christians.  Paul himself would even be martyred by the Empire. But what did Paul say, in spite of this?  Be a good citizen.  Do right.

You can’t let another’s actions control you.  Just because they don’t do right or aren’t right, that does not alleviate us of our calling to do the right thing.  That’s always, always our mission.  Do the right thing.  Paul tells us to be good citizens, no matter what.  Today, no matter where we find ourselves, may we work for the betterment of our community and our nation.

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