Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

At the end of Chapter 13, Paul sends out an urgent message. He says in Verse 11, “...salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.”

I love competitive sports. The sport I fell in love with the most was football. All of the things I did wrong and the actions stemming from frustrations in all other sports were acceptable in football. A hard foul in youth basketball is called a tackle in football. In baseball, a frustrating strike out at the plate followed by an impromptu charging of the mound is also called a tackle in football. So many things I did wrong in other sports were all called tackles in the sport of football. If you were frustrated with a previous play, the sport of football had a built-in therapeutic outlet in the form of a tackle. In football, there are four quarters. At the start of the fourth quarter, our team would hold up four fingers in the air as to say, "Four - We have one last quarter to finish what we started.”

In Chapter 13, I see Paul holding up these same four fingers. In verse 12 he says, “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” The period of longsuffering and man’s depravity is represented in this darkness. The day represents Christ’s return and reign. Now, you may be thinking, “This is the longest night I think I have ever witnessed.” 2 Peter 3:8 says, “Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” Paul goes on to spur us in verse 13 to “behave properly as in the day.” We should live our lives as for the Lord and make no provisions for our flesh. It’s through this lens that we should live our day to day. The mistakes you made in the first three quarters are over and done with. You can’t go back and change them. You only have the fourth quarter to lay it all on the line, leave it all on the field, and win the game.

Fortunately for us, our game is won. It’s because of this truth, however, that we play the fourth quarter as a winning team. Winning teams are such because of determination, discipline, and dedication. Let us be determined to make His name known. Let us be disciplined in His Word in our lives. Finally, let us dedicate our lives to the leader of our team, in whom we put all of our hope and trust. Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Do you have a relationship with someone who doesn’t know Jesus? What is in the way of you sharing the Gospel with that person?
• Prayer: God, help us to be good stewards of your Gospel. Eliminate spiritual apathy from our lives. Give us the focus and passion we need to make You known. Let us not lay down at night without the burden of Your Gospel on our hearts and minds. Help us to be the people You need us to be in every situation and in every relationship. We love You. Amen.

Family Devo: Romans 13

By: Cody Smith 

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.  

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset 

Head

Romans Chapter 13 teaches us about our responsibilities as Christians within society and the importance of submitting to governing authorities. The apostle Paul emphasizes that God has established authorities for a purpose and that we should respect and obey them. He reminds us that love fulfills the law and encourages us to live honorably, avoiding behaviors that harm others. Paul highlights the urgency of living in the light of Christ's return, reminding us to live as people of integrity and righteousness.

Heart

As we explore Romans Chapter 13, let our hearts be filled with a desire to honor God in all aspects of our lives, including our relationship with authority. We are called to live as law-abiding citizens, recognizing that God has appointed those in positions of authority. Let us remember that our ultimate allegiance is to God, and we demonstrate our love for Him by respecting and obeying those in authority. This chapter challenges us to examine our attitudes toward authority and to align our hearts with God's principles of love and righteousness.

Hands

Living out the principles of Romans Chapter 13 requires action. We can contribute positively to society by being responsible citizens and actively participating in our communities. We can obey laws, pay taxes, and respect those in positions of authority. Additionally, we can demonstrate love and kindness to others, treating everyone with respect and dignity. Let us be peacemakers, seeking to resolve conflicts peacefully and promoting unity in our interactions. As we live with integrity and love, we become a reflection of Christ's light in the world.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we delve into Romans Chapter 13, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom. Help us to understand and apply the principles of this chapter in our lives. Teach us to respect and obey those in authority, recognizing that You have established them for a purpose. Fill our hearts with love and compassion for others, enabling us to be responsible citizens who contribute positively to society. May our actions reflect Your light and love. In Jesus' name, amen.