Devotion 11/11, Freedom

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1

This is hard to read sometimes. I watch the news and it’s as the media and our leaders have their own pagan religion we call government. The purpose of government is suppose to be to serve and and protect, but it seems the leaders and the media worship the power they have. They lose sight of serving the people and are addicted to the money and personal agendas. God will deal them in his time.
A Christian is not required to obey if the government orders him to sin or compromise his loyalty to Jesus Christ. In Acts 5 Peter and the other apostles were ordered by the governing authority to stop teaching the people of Jerusalem about the Lord Jesus Christ, their response was:
Acts 5:29
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than man.”
God is our supreme authority always. But that does not mean that we as His children can just ignore human authority. Many of our laws are set up for our own good and protection and the Spirit filled Christian will obey them as God intends for us to do.
Separation of church and state is man’s doing, not God’s. It is crucial for every Christian to vote for candidates in political races that most closely uphold God’s Word, that way our country will be greatly blessed for honoring God and we can enjoy living in a society that is free, prosperous, and in tune with God’s will and order!
God has truly blessed most of us so we can enjoy the protection of the authorities where we live. But we also live in the time of some of the greatest persecution ever known in the Christian era. So as we pray for our leaders and thank God for our freedoms, let’s not forget the persecuted church all over the world.

Thank You Father God for setting governments up, and taking them down. I am thankful for America and the freedoms I have to worship You without bodily persecution. God of the Exodus, as you have shown your power and deliverance in the past, we ask that you act today and bless every believer who is persecuted for your sake. Please bless them with tenderness, healing, and protection on this day. I give all thanks, praise and glory to you. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Lord, I give thanks for all the freedoms I was born in to. Remind me each day that I have the opportunity to thank those that served and serve to defend my freedoms. Bless this country and thy will be done. Amen.
I love listening to different styles when singing our our national anthem. It’s still one of the most difficult pieces of music to do well.