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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. … 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. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
~Romans 13:1-2, 7-8
We tend to think that an officeholder whose views differ from our own must not be in power justly. However, anyone in any position of authority is there because it is God’s will. Even evil rulers, like Pharaoh, can be used of God for His purposes. He used Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus and many other pagan leaders, sometimes to chasten His people and sometimes to restore them. We should certainly exercise our privilege to vote and support those whose policies reflect our faith. But regardless of what we think of the authority, he or she is in that position because God wills it. If we are required by the government to take actions contrary to Biblical faith, we must in good conscience follow God rather than man. Otherwise, we are obligated to obey the laws and respect our leaders.
Lord God Almighty, sometimes it’s hard to see why You give us the leaders You do, but You have a purpose for everything. I pray that You will give us the leadership we need, not the leadership we deserve. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.