Romans 13 may appear to be about politics and power because it begins with a call to obey governing authorities, but by bookending a brief statement about “the authorities” with two clarion calls to the transformed life, Paul is effectively dwarfing the importance of Roman power and prestige in favor of offering a “wake up call” to the Roman church to that which matters most. He wishes to remind them that light is breaking through, the world that is filled with darkness is passing away, and as the author of Revelation puts it, “the kingdom of the world is becoming the kingdom of the Lord” (Rev. 11:15). It’s time to wake up!