WE WALK LAWFULLY
Romans 13:4,8
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
The Heavenly Father loves order and that is why He approves of institutions of authority. All believers are encouraged to respect these authorities and do our obligations:
Luke 20:22,24-25
Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
“Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
The believer is not under the bondage of the law. However, the believer cannot be faulted by the law, for they are not law breakers. We have a higher law. The law of love.
Thus if people are arrested for doing wrong, the believer cannot be among them. The believer may be persecuted but cannot be punished, for the believer is not guilty.
Romans 13:3
For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
We must remember that we are believers, however, we are also fathers, mothers, children, employers, employees, citizens, business owners, government officials etc. Our faith covers all these areas of our lives and we must have good report.
One may say, but those in authority are full of evil, they steal our common wealth, they oppress those they ought to lead and serve, they are full of lies and they have not met their obligations.
Truly so, however if they fault, we cannot afford to fault to. We commit them to the hand of God and we must also stand as believers when it is time to decide. Do we vote right, do we support those who have good intentions? See the Lord knows how to deal with these evil ones. So we keep praying and influencing rightly. We speak as the Lord directs us when we have the opportunity. See, the believer is powerful because of God’s Spirit.
What of in our own area of influence? Do we do the right things, do we lead right? Do we take care of those under us?
We know that some who claim to be believers have occupied these places of authority, what is their testimony? Those still there now, are they doing right?
What is the role of those we call spiritual leaders, pastors, bishops, general overseers, are they speaking the truth? Are they bold enough to speak God’s view to those in authority.
These are the times when the crave for money(earthly wealth) dominates many minds, the believers too are not spared. Will it take over God’s place in their lives?
We must not forget that - TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Romans 13:11-12
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
Every new day we see draws us closer to when Christ will return, and of course even if He tarries, we yet have to leave the scene.
We who are His, live in the day, we have no business with darkness:
Romans 13:13
Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
What do we do?
Romans 13:14
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
So help us Good Lord, maker of heaven and earth, we submit to your Spirit.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
The Heavenly Father loves order and that is why He approves of institutions of authority. All believers are encouraged to respect these authorities and do our obligations:
Luke 20:22,24-25
Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
“Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
The believer is not under the bondage of the law. However, the believer cannot be faulted by the law, for they are not law breakers. We have a higher law. The law of love.
Thus if people are arrested for doing wrong, the believer cannot be among them. The believer may be persecuted but cannot be punished, for the believer is not guilty.
Romans 13:3
For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
We must remember that we are believers, however, we are also fathers, mothers, children, employers, employees, citizens, business owners, government officials etc. Our faith covers all these areas of our lives and we must have good report.
One may say, but those in authority are full of evil, they steal our common wealth, they oppress those they ought to lead and serve, they are full of lies and they have not met their obligations.
Truly so, however if they fault, we cannot afford to fault to. We commit them to the hand of God and we must also stand as believers when it is time to decide. Do we vote right, do we support those who have good intentions? See the Lord knows how to deal with these evil ones. So we keep praying and influencing rightly. We speak as the Lord directs us when we have the opportunity. See, the believer is powerful because of God’s Spirit.
What of in our own area of influence? Do we do the right things, do we lead right? Do we take care of those under us?
We know that some who claim to be believers have occupied these places of authority, what is their testimony? Those still there now, are they doing right?
What is the role of those we call spiritual leaders, pastors, bishops, general overseers, are they speaking the truth? Are they bold enough to speak God’s view to those in authority.
These are the times when the crave for money(earthly wealth) dominates many minds, the believers too are not spared. Will it take over God’s place in their lives?
We must not forget that - TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Romans 13:11-12
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
Every new day we see draws us closer to when Christ will return, and of course even if He tarries, we yet have to leave the scene.
We who are His, live in the day, we have no business with darkness:
Romans 13:13
Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
What do we do?
Romans 13:14
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
So help us Good Lord, maker of heaven and earth, we submit to your Spirit.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
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