10/18/2026 Sunday Worship Service

God calls His people to lives that include showing respect for the authorities placed over us. At the time Paul wrote to his coworker Timothy, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1–2), the Roman world had been ruled by a series of tyrannical and cruel emperors for decades. When Jesus spoke of the duty of people to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21), the Roman emperor was Tiberius Caesar, portrayed by noted historians of his time, Tacitus and Suetonius, as a mean-spirited tyrant and a man ever ready to spill blood. Sometimes, in His providence, God shows His dominion in ways not readily understood and chooses to work through untoward and unlikeable people. He may even use non-Christian leaders and unchristian nations to further His gracious plans. In living as faithful citizens, we are called to carry out the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, including paying taxes. At the same time, we are to demonstrate our highest allegiance to God by being people of faith who evidence our eternal hope in Christ in all situations and who offer prayers for those who rule over us.