NO ONE IS ABOVE GOD
«He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail» (Proverbs 22:8).
Trajan Decius (201-251) was proclaimed emperor of Rome in the year AD 249. The ruler had a particular contempt for Christianity, as he considered it one of the great causes of the loss of R01nan glory. So, to regain R01ne’s old splendor, he {Olt that it was necessary to restore the pagan religion. In addition, he repressed the movements he considered to be a threat to traditional values and Roman beliefs, including Christianity. In June AD 250, the Edict of Decius was publicized, ordering the governors and magistrates to ensure that the universal observance of the requirement to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods and to the emperor be installed. To do so, a certificate (libellus pacis) was issued for all those who fulfilled the order. Apparently, the edict was ignored in some places, however, it was severely applied in others. This situation led thousands of Christians to bravely suffer martyrdom, but there were also those who renounced their faith for fear of persecution. The abuses seemed not to end until Trajan was assassinated in June AD 251, during a military expedition.
In February AD 303, a new season of persecution struck the Christian church, this time under Diocletian (244-311), who promulgated an edict ordering the destruction of all Christian places of worship, the destruction of their books, and the prohibition of all their worships. Christian civil servants lost all their privileges or status and were degraded to slaves. It is said that Diocletian forced his own wife and daughter, both Christian faithful, to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. The persecution by Diocletian was the bloodiest of the Roman Empire against Christians. However, when he seemed to be at his best moment, he became ill and felt debilitated, so he abdicated the throne on May 1, AD 305. It is possible that, plunged into depression, he committed suicide on December 3, AD 311. That same year, Galerius ordered the cessation of the persecutions of Christians and issued a decree allowing Christians to live normally and celebrate their religious services.
Everyone who has authority must remember that there is One who we need to be accountable to and we cannot go against His designs. But no one is above the heavenly Father, even if they temporarily behave aggressively toward God’s children. Today’s verse promises that God Himself will take care of the situation.
Today ask the Lord to always keep You by His side in any circumstance.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo