The Christian Under Human Government (7) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again.
2 Corinthians 1:10

The Christian Under Human Government (7)
How should a Christian behave under an ungodly government? Let's be aware that even in the so-called free world, much persecution exists because many of those in authority reject biblical values. Humanistic thinking has taken over in the name of liberty and human rights, setting aside any notion of God and of His rights. Besides that, in many countries all over the world, the government allows, or even promotes, persecution of Christians, whether they are so only in name or true believers.

We learn much from the apostle Paul and those who worked with him. When the Lord called him, He showed Saul (Paul) that he would suffer much for His name (; 22:1-22). Because of the special commission God had given him (26:16-23), the apostle became the prime target of the enemy's attacks. The Lord allowed those assaults for Paul's own good and for the good of the believers (2 Cor. 1:4-11; 11:23-28). We are privileged to be disciples of the same heavenly Master and, if faithful, will face opposition as well.

We represent His kingdom in a world that rejects Him (1 Th. 2:12-14). Paul linked the sufferings for the Lord's interests in the present, with the coming rewards in glory (2 Th. 1:4-10).

Therefore, he urged Christians to pray for all people and for the authorities under which they are placed, even for those that order persecution. He wrote that we should pray with earnest supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Why? Because Christians belong to God our Savior's "house of prayer." God is invisible but He dwells in a house that becomes visible in the believers. He desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

Alfred E. Bouter