Romans 13:6-10 (NIV)
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Ouch! Does the Scriptures really have to say we have to pay our taxes? Yes. Rome collected from their own people and those nations they conquered. I am sure there was corruption back in those days as we have today. Yet, Paul knowing all of this, said that they were to pay their taxes. If you owe someone then pay them. Look at the way we can owe people. The currency of owing someone is not always the currency of money. We are to show respect or honor if it is due. The only debt we are to owe all the time is the debt to love one another. This love thing is a big thing. We as followers of Christ are to really show forth the love of God in and through our lives. Paul goes back to the law to prove his point as to love really is important. We fulfill the law if we love our fellowman. Paul names some of the commandments that we fulfill in loving others. The one rule sums up the many rules. If we love, we will for instance, not covet our neighbor's wife. At the very least if we understand love, love does not bring any harm to those around us.
If your love be pure, simple, and well ordered, you shall be free from bondage.
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Romans 13:1-5 (NIV)
Romans 13:1-5 (NIV)
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
How is your submission mode working nowadays? This command to submit to the governing authorities goes for everyone and that includes the disciples of Christ. According to these verses there is no authority that has been established unless it is established by God. You can have some fun with these verses by asking some questions of this verse? In light of these verses was the United States established as an illegal nation? What about Hitler and his regime? Is it okay for a more powerful nation to be a regime remover? What about the Civil War? These verses tell us that if there is rebellion against the established authority that they bring judgment upon themselves. It would be good to remember that this is written to the Romans who were living in Rome. We can be free from fear of these authorities by being obedient. Here is where it gets even more interesting as to the one who carries the sword. Does a nation or state have the right to take a life? Many point to these verses to say yes. There are still others who say the state has the right to punish, but not to take a life. Try to remember where these verses are located for it is good to remind those around us at different times to understand that God establishes authority and we must trust Him who has placed it here.
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
How is your submission mode working nowadays? This command to submit to the governing authorities goes for everyone and that includes the disciples of Christ. According to these verses there is no authority that has been established unless it is established by God. You can have some fun with these verses by asking some questions of this verse? In light of these verses was the United States established as an illegal nation? What about Hitler and his regime? Is it okay for a more powerful nation to be a regime remover? What about the Civil War? These verses tell us that if there is rebellion against the established authority that they bring judgment upon themselves. It would be good to remember that this is written to the Romans who were living in Rome. We can be free from fear of these authorities by being obedient. Here is where it gets even more interesting as to the one who carries the sword. Does a nation or state have the right to take a life? Many point to these verses to say yes. There are still others who say the state has the right to punish, but not to take a life. Try to remember where these verses are located for it is good to remind those around us at different times to understand that God establishes authority and we must trust Him who has placed it here.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Romans 12:12-16 (NIV)
Romans 12:12-16 (NIV)
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Who are you to become? What are you to become? We are to be a cheerful people. One of the characteristics of a follower of Christ is that of joy. Notice the new twist. We are to be joyful in hope. When tough times come we are to be patient. We want patience, but we are like the person who prayed, "Lord give me patience and give it to me now." We are to be faithful in prayer. It would be good right now if you stopped reading and prayed to your heavenly Father. Try to do that throughout the day. We are no longer to conform to the ways of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. If you haven't noticed these are all commands. We become what we think and do! We are to be a generous people. We are to share with God's people who are in need. It is so easy to become consumed with our stuff. Two words--practice hospitality. Is your heart and home open to others. Now the tough stuff. We are not only to walk away when being persecuted we are to bless them. This is why you need to read Romans 5-8 before you read these words. We are dead to sin and alive to God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Here is another real kicker. We are to rejoice when others are rejoicing and mourn with those who mourn. Paul makes no allowances for our feelings at this juncture. We are commanded to do it. Paul breaks down the social class system with these words in verse 16. Are you proud? Are you conceited? What do you do to live in harmony with other people? I plead with you not to read these verses too fast. Let them sink into your soul.
Christianity does not teach a doctrine of weakness. But the strength it gives a man is quite different from his natural strength. It is a God-directed strength, doing what God wills. It wins great victories, but they are only over evil and self, not the destructive victories that are won over others.
Paul Tournier (1898–1986)
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Who are you to become? What are you to become? We are to be a cheerful people. One of the characteristics of a follower of Christ is that of joy. Notice the new twist. We are to be joyful in hope. When tough times come we are to be patient. We want patience, but we are like the person who prayed, "Lord give me patience and give it to me now." We are to be faithful in prayer. It would be good right now if you stopped reading and prayed to your heavenly Father. Try to do that throughout the day. We are no longer to conform to the ways of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. If you haven't noticed these are all commands. We become what we think and do! We are to be a generous people. We are to share with God's people who are in need. It is so easy to become consumed with our stuff. Two words--practice hospitality. Is your heart and home open to others. Now the tough stuff. We are not only to walk away when being persecuted we are to bless them. This is why you need to read Romans 5-8 before you read these words. We are dead to sin and alive to God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Here is another real kicker. We are to rejoice when others are rejoicing and mourn with those who mourn. Paul makes no allowances for our feelings at this juncture. We are commanded to do it. Paul breaks down the social class system with these words in verse 16. Are you proud? Are you conceited? What do you do to live in harmony with other people? I plead with you not to read these verses too fast. Let them sink into your soul.
Christianity does not teach a doctrine of weakness. But the strength it gives a man is quite different from his natural strength. It is a God-directed strength, doing what God wills. It wins great victories, but they are only over evil and self, not the destructive victories that are won over others.
Paul Tournier (1898–1986)
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