Today’s Reading: Proverbs 19; Proverbs 20; Proverbs 21; Romans 13
Scripture: Romans 13:1-7
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. 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.
Observation: Absolute. That is what the verses above seem to convey. They seem to present an absolute truth that if there is a ruler (king, president, dictator, governor, prince, etc.), this person has been hand picked, appointed, and ordained by God. And if the absolute is absolute, then we are to submit to every ruler, no matter what. That would mean that when Hitler instructed the people to turn in the Jews, and when he instructed the extermination camp guards to gas them, the righteous thing would be for the people and the guards to obey his instructions. But that would make God supportive of and complicit with the worst kinds of evil. So something must be wrong with that absolute interpretation. This is where the rule of context is so important. The context of these verses describes the "God-established" authority. It describes that authority as one who "hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong" and who is an "agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." This "God-established" authority commends those who do right. Therefore Hitler (and any of hundreds of other megalomaniacal authorities) does not meet the description of this kind of ruler. Does the Bible support this assertion or is this simply my own logic and sense of morality that I am imposing on the Bible? Well, I'm glad you asked because the Bible itself gives us and indication that the principal in question may not be so absolute after all. In Hosea 8:4 the Lord says, "They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval." In other words, these rulers are not God's choice -- they are not approved by God. So the injunction to submission based on authority figures as God's servants cannot be universally applied.
Application: This is already too long for a devotional post. I don't want to turn this into a theological treatise so I will leave it here. The basic application is that each of us must be careful in understanding and applying the truth of the Bible to our own lives and the lives of others. There is often a subtle balance that requires a deeper understanding of the whole of the Bible to put truths into practice in a way that truly reflects God's character. And reflecting God's character is the point, after all.
Prayer: Lord, help your people -- help me -- to understand and implement your truth in the most fully correct way. Enable your servants to reflect the beauty of you in all we do and say and think.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Title: The Ridiculous Me / Topic: Humility
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; Romans 12
Scripture: Romans 12:3-5
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Observation: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought..." These words of the Apostle Paul are so contrary to the spirit of our age. I was contrasting them with the attitude of some of the contestants I've seen recently on reality TV shows. Whether it is dancing or singing, so many people who have little or no talent truly seem to think that they are extraordinarily gifted. We have created a culture (with the help of the so-called self-esteem movement) that praises mediocrity and idolizes children as heroes just for being children. What a bunch of bunk. The focus on individual rights, privileges, and accomplishments has created an army of narcissistic, selfish, demanding, prima donnas who contribute little or nothing to the betterment of the human race.
Application: The key in this verse as I see it is to understand that we aren't alone -- "each member belongs to all the others." Of course, this is in the context of belonging to Christ and his body, the church. This automatically creates a sense of obligation and responsibility to others. Therefore, my individual success apart from the group is not true success. For me to succeed, the entire group must succeed. This keeps me from a self focus that promotes the inappropriate self-image that Paul warns against: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment."
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have placed me into a family that helps me to stay grounded in you and connected to others. Help me to make a great contribution by my life to the success of others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Romans 12:3-5
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Observation: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought..." These words of the Apostle Paul are so contrary to the spirit of our age. I was contrasting them with the attitude of some of the contestants I've seen recently on reality TV shows. Whether it is dancing or singing, so many people who have little or no talent truly seem to think that they are extraordinarily gifted. We have created a culture (with the help of the so-called self-esteem movement) that praises mediocrity and idolizes children as heroes just for being children. What a bunch of bunk. The focus on individual rights, privileges, and accomplishments has created an army of narcissistic, selfish, demanding, prima donnas who contribute little or nothing to the betterment of the human race.
Application: The key in this verse as I see it is to understand that we aren't alone -- "each member belongs to all the others." Of course, this is in the context of belonging to Christ and his body, the church. This automatically creates a sense of obligation and responsibility to others. Therefore, my individual success apart from the group is not true success. For me to succeed, the entire group must succeed. This keeps me from a self focus that promotes the inappropriate self-image that Paul warns against: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment."
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have placed me into a family that helps me to stay grounded in you and connected to others. Help me to make a great contribution by my life to the success of others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Title: The Love Of Death / Topic: Destructive Behaviors
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 7; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9; Romans 9
Scripture: Proverbs 8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."
Observation: What struck me as I read this is the fact that so many people today that anti-God fit the description given above. They harm themselves through a variety of means (drugs, alcohol, dangerous pastimes, etc.), mutilating their own bodies (piercings, tattoos, etc.), and they have a fixation with death (skulls, gothic items, Halloween, etc.). So many of these people aren't just unbelievers, they are against-believers. They despise God and those who represent him. These God haters go out of their way to express their desire to be free of God and in the process do themselves harm and embrace death.
Application: Stay sweet and be conscious that those of us who name the name of Jesus will be reviled by many. It is my duty to come in an opposite spirit, even loving my enemies. Perhaps some of these people can be won over by a gentle answer that turns away wrath.
Prayer: Lord, help your church to be living in such a way that you are glorified. Forgive us for all the ways in which we have represented you poorly -- with our divisions, our failures, and the like. May each of your people take the responsibility to declare you well to the world.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Proverbs 8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."
Observation: What struck me as I read this is the fact that so many people today that anti-God fit the description given above. They harm themselves through a variety of means (drugs, alcohol, dangerous pastimes, etc.), mutilating their own bodies (piercings, tattoos, etc.), and they have a fixation with death (skulls, gothic items, Halloween, etc.). So many of these people aren't just unbelievers, they are against-believers. They despise God and those who represent him. These God haters go out of their way to express their desire to be free of God and in the process do themselves harm and embrace death.
Application: Stay sweet and be conscious that those of us who name the name of Jesus will be reviled by many. It is my duty to come in an opposite spirit, even loving my enemies. Perhaps some of these people can be won over by a gentle answer that turns away wrath.
Prayer: Lord, help your church to be living in such a way that you are glorified. Forgive us for all the ways in which we have represented you poorly -- with our divisions, our failures, and the like. May each of your people take the responsibility to declare you well to the world.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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