Romans 13

It is hard to be civil in all my posts. We all have opinions. We don't all think alike. I am pretty free with my thoughts. I find many Christians on both sides conservative and liberal want to believe God gave us our leader if it is the one they voted for. I have had a liberal Christian and a conservative Christian both say they think God didn't give us either one. They don't want to believe God could possibly give them someone they don't like. Am I wrong on my view? So I want to take another look at Romans 13.
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. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.   Romans 13:1-7.  This passage of scripture is one I go to when dealing with civil authority. Civil Authority needs to be respected, if we like it or not, if we like the person elected or not.  I realize that we citizens vote in our rulers in this nation, but these rulers are still under God's authority. I believe God is sovereign. He is over all. I am not sure I am stating this wrong, that God gives us our rulers. God certainly wants us to respect our rulers. Maybe saying God gives us our rulers is too strong a term. God is sovereign and He is in control. Our rulers can only go as far as God lets them. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.  Proverbs 21:1. God ordains civil authority. God put it there for our good.  However we got the rulers we have, if you believe God gave them or don't, God's word tells us to respect them. Perhaps I won't make that statement any more, God gives us our rulers. I say that because God is sovereign, because he wants  us to respect all authority. Does that mean he actually gives us our rulers? He did give kings to the Israelites, some good and some bad to suit his purposes. Our President is the equivalent of the king God gave to his people Israel. Perhaps I should not say God gives us our rulers, but I will say we are still to respect and submit to civil authority until such time as it violates our relationship with God. I make that statement many times, God gives us our rulers, and I'm not sure that it is a wrong statement when I read Old Testament and how God gave rulers to his people. I do know we need to respect authority. It is God ordained. Our first authority in our lives is our parents, and we need to honor them, it is one of the Ten Commandments. It is not because they are good or bad parents that we respect them, it is just because they are our parents period.  When people say respect must be earned, I think of Romans 13, and the fifth commandment. I think this passage and the fifth commandment says it is to be given period.  Not just when we have a President that we are pleased with, but because he holds the office. We see so many posts on face book that divide us. Which President is better, etc. If you don't like Obama and his policies, OK, you perhaps have good reason to. But respect the office he held as elected President for eight years. If you don't like Trump, respect the office, he was elected. We owe them respect, not because they are good or better than each other but because they hold the office of President. Civil Authority is given and ordained by God for our good. We may not always understand or like what they do. Even in other countries like Russia or Sadia Arabia, if we lived there we owe the rulers respect, because however the Civil Authority operates it is ordained of God. Perhaps when they order us to disobey God's word, then we obey the higher law, which is God's law. We have examples of that in Daniel and the three Hebrew children. Joseph is another that comes to mind. Civil Authority is ordained by God. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.  We are even to pray for those in authority.  Perhaps if we did that the respect would come easier. Those are my thoughts on this day, God bless, LVZ.