CIVIL CITIZENS

CIVIL CITIZENS

Titus 3:1-2 Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not speak evil of anyone, and they must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.  NLT

      God wants us to live in peace. He doesn't want us to live on the edge, always riled up about something. We may not like or agree with all that is going on around us, but we should strive to live well in our world. It is easy to dislike the world we live in and those who rule in it. But, unless there is an obvious misuse of power and abuse of those who rule over us, we are to be law-abiding citizens who strive to do good.

      It is a good thing for us to pray for our leaders. Instead of always finding fault with them, we should pray for them. We should leave the judging up to the Lord who alone is able to judge the heart. Our duty is to do good and pray for them.

      It is a good thing for us to not participate in gossip and degrading discussions. It is easy to speak evil of people we don't know. God knows what we talk about and He will hold us accountable for it.

      It is a good thing for us to be gentle and show true humility to everyone. It is good, but it is not easy. Our sinful nature does not act that way. It takes a lot of determined effort on our part to resist the temptation to be driven by selfish ambition and pride. It is a battle that we are never completely freed from.  The more we live in Christ, the more likely it is that we will win far more battles than we lose. The most effective way to change the world we live in is for the body of Christ to live godly lives consistently in the world. We are commanded to be a holy people.

      Are you praying for those who rule over you? The list would include your leaders in government, at work, in the church, or perhaps even at home.  

      Are you living a godly life outside of the church? Does your life reflect Christ in such a way that you are making a difference in your world? You may be the only true witness for Christ someone will ever have.

      We are to submit to our civil leaders and their representatives. We are to support them as they carry out their duties.  However, if they are not civil in how they govern us, we are to obey God and not man. When we live godly lives, striving to live in peace with everyone, there is nothing to fear, God will honor and reward you, no matter what man may or may not do to you.