Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

I must admit, this has been and is a very hard passage for me to apply. Sometimes I see people in authority who do things that either: 1) don’t seem to make sense, 2) cause me hardship or pain, or 3) are clearly unfair. And I want to complain or take action right away to call out their errors. I think one of my favorite stories about this principle is the story of Zacchaeus. As the story goes, Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He collected taxes for the Roman Empire. But he would collect more taxes than required and pocket the difference. He probably trained the tax collectors under him in this practice too. He was deeply resented in the community for building his riches on the blood, sweat, and tears of his countrymen. People gossiped about him and excluded him.

Jesus applied the principle in Romans 13 to this situation and honored Zacchaeus. He asked him to host him at his home. Think of that, the most popular person in the Jewish nation wanted to visit with a thief, Zacchaeus. And this was his response to this high honor paid to him: “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” (Luke‬ ‭19:8-10‬)

What I have failed to realize in the past (and many others do) … is that Jesus is primarily in the Rescue Mission business. He seeks and saves the lost. And we can either join him or complain about the injustices of the lost as we sit on the sidelines. We must see others as Jesus sees them. I call this putting on my “Jesus Eyes”. What is that thief’s potential in Christ if they were saved? What good could that slanderer do if they were rescued from the evil ways of this world? How could this leader impact God’s kingdom for good if, instead of complaining against her, I showed her the love of Christ when she didn’t deserve it? It transforms life’s priorities in real time!

Lord Jesus, I have spent too many days focused on what governments and leaders have done to wrong me. NO MORE! I repent of this sin. No more sitting on the spiritual sidelines for me. My life is in your hands, Lord. Your purposes and your ways are to seek out, rescue, and save the lost. I will, with all of my heart join you, no matter the personal cost. Souls saved are the riches of heaven!