Devotion — Church and Government

If you bring your totaled car to your dentist, don’t expect her to replace the engine block. If you’ve had a toothache for weeks, don’t pay your mechanic to try a root canal.

So much of our frustration with our earthly government comes when we expect it to perform things it wasn’t designed to perform.

God established the government for your good, but not for your salvation. If you desire more justice for your neighbor, bring them to your alderman. If you desire your neighbor to be justified eternally before God, bring them to church.

Romans 13:4

The one in authority is God’s servant for your good.

For meditation:

How can understanding that God has given government the authority to prevent injustice, not the ability to create a utopia, help me view politics constructively?

For prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have established earthly governments for our good. Help me to remember the wonderful things government accomplishes even as I recognize that it will never be perfect, and give you thanks for winning perfection in my place. Amen.