This past week we have a great honor to host our President and Vice-President of the United States to our city. President Trump had one of his Christmas rallies, which was part of his 2020 campaign. The city was busy with secret service, military, and police most of them unseen.

There were also many people speaking out about the President, some supporting and some against. Many on both sides were expecting some sort of incident to happen, from violent protesters to the extreme like a bombing, neither extreme happened, praise God.

As a believer in Jesus, it does not matter if you like or dislike our President we are instructed to honor everyone including the leader over us.

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus even stated to his disciples and the others around them that it is lawful to pay Caesar what was due to Caesar.

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:17-22 ESV

I applied these scriptures to my life over twenty plus years ago. I was with a group of people that were legally trying to get out of paying any form of income tax. The hoops they were willing to go through was amazing and overwhelmed me. I began to study the scripture to see if this was something God wanted me to do. I realized that I was to submit to the authorities.

I have not agreed with policies that some of my Presidents have installed in our country by I still need to pray for them and not attack their character, God is the only one that can correctly judge anyone’s heart. By submitting to authorities in our lives, if we agree or disagree, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” 1 Peter chapter 2

These scriptures do not just apply to the President of the United States, but to our Governors or Mayors. Likewise, it applies to parents, grandparents, teachers, and coaches. we need to honor and submit to all authorities that God has set over us.