Verse of the Day 4/15

Verse of the Day 4/15

Romans 13:5-6  But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God's anger.

⁶ You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God's servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters. 

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Today is April 15th, traditionally known as "tax day" here in the U.S. because it is the deadline for filing our income tax returns to determine how much we still owe or how much of a refund we will get.  This year, in light of the pandemic that is going on around us, the government has pushed back that due date.  Today is a day and we are in a time when we can be thankful for our government, it's leaders, and the tough decisions that are being made, hopefully with our best personal interests in mind.

In another difficult time, our civil war, President Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address spoke of our  government as " that government of the people, by the people, for the people."   These times are a reminder of how important those words were and should still be a reminder for our government leaders as to just who it is that they are to be working for.

Read the passage below.  Respecting our government, being in subjection to it, submitting to it's authority and do  what we are called to do, and pray for our leaders for wisdom, strength, and courage to do what needs to be done.

^{Romans 13:7}  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. English Standard Version

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Romans 13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴ for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷ Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.