Happy Sabbath! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Seasons Greetings! Joy to you!
Question of the Day: What is your favorite greeting? What do you say to the person at the check out lane?
READ: Romans 13: 1-7
Submission to Governing Authorities
13 Let everyone be subject 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, whoever 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 you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents 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 as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
We have just been through a terribly hostile election process, making this passage a difficult one to navigate. If you are happy about the results of the election I can imagine that this passage could be used to accentuate the fact that everyone needs to stop complaining and get in line. If that is your view then how did you or do you relate this text with an Obama president. Or if the election had gone the other way.
So what about life application?
What if you didn't vote for Trump and you are one of those who is devastated and sick at the idea of a Trump presidency? How do you read and apply this passage?
Before this class becomes a all too frequent Facebook feed page.... before we start coming apart at the seems...
Before we get caught up in making one leader more sanctioned by God than another...
There are passages for leaders in the bible, and the presidents will have to answer to God, but unless you are president, this passage is for you.
This passage tells us what?
1. Be a good citizen.
2. Be a good citizen.
We are going to keep going and read the whole chapter and then revisit the beginning and see if the whole picture makes sense.
Love Fulfills the Law
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a]and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Maybe we need to read this again. Do we really believe this?
How do we do this?
Is love passive or active?
How does this passage relate to the first part of this chapter?
How does this passage relate to the first 11 chapters of this book?
Let's continue reading.
The Day Is Near
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Do what?
So the end is near... we need to do what?
"Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."
How do we do that?
Paul goes on to be more descriptive in what he means...
"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ."
This is an active statement. We are to do something, what is it?
I know that many of us are weary of it all constantly going back to love...
Isn't that too theoretical?
Do we sometimes clothe our judgement in "speaking in love" when we really don't love at all?
Do we sometimes clothe our passivity in "I just love" when we really don't love at all?
I have heard people complain about a certain pastor's sermons, that he only talks about love. Where is the justice, where is the meat.
I would argue that perhaps learning how to fulfill this passage, is the hardest, the most difficult work we are called to do. Talking about love, about the love of God, and how we are to love others is arguably the only thing we should be talking about...
It is the meat, the vegetable, the starch and the dessert.
It is the love of God that brought us salvation.
The law, that is fulfilled by loving others.
Love casts out fear.
Love love love love.
The end is near.... love
Because of what Jesus has done for you... love
Be a good citizen...love.
Love is a choice, a feeling, love is an action... I'm not even going to try to describe it....
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
This week let's live loved, let's live love.
1. Soak up the love of God. Get in His word. Write down the bounty of His blessings and acts of love for you!
2. Love yourself. Stop it! Stop it! Stop hating yourself! Stop the "yea buts." Stop sitting in self pity. Let God show you who he created you to be. Let God affirm you for where you are, and guide you to where He wants you to be. Accept the grace and love He has for you.
3. Love those around you! Love your family, love your neighbors, love your church family, love the men and women out there working in the stores. Love without expecting or needing, just love them. Reread the above passage, and live it!
Merry Christmas! May this week be filled with love!!!!
Jackie Settlemyre - sick, had a difficult night, at urgent care
ReplyDeleteEli Scroggins - surgery scheduled 01/27/2017
Safety for those on the roads