Month: April 2005

Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
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.
Love, for the Day is Near.
8. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” [a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has 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 orgies 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 sinful nature.

Many times we choose to live our lives in the darkness of a sole centered existence. There are many reasons for this. We are usually under the impression that it is a safer way of life. We hide because we don’t want others to really see us as we are. The problem is that our souls need the acceptance and approval from God and others to really feel fulfilled in our lives. This fulfillment is then impossible to obtain as long as we remain in the darkness. Guilt and shame are powerful enemies. If we are guilty, God already knows about it before we confess it, and He accepts us anyway. He only asks that we confess it to him. If we feel shame, God looks past it, and accepts as we are. If God has forgiven you of your guilt and shame, who am I to condemn you for them? I can have the same acceptance for you as God has. This is what grace is all about.

Find a grace filled place where you can feel safe to “live in the light”.

Do you see authority as from God?

Why do we owe a continuing debt to love one another?

How do you feel when the light is shed on your deeds?

Do you feel like you are in a slumber?

How can you clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Romans 12
Living Sacrifices
1. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. 2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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. 6. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8. if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love
9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 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.
17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Most sin (if not all) is based in selfishness. When we offer our bodies as living sacrifices we stop living to ourselves, and begin to serve God and others. This world is full of products and services that are targeted to our selfish desires and offer to give us an easier life. Sometimes we get caught in the opposite trap. We wrap our lives totally around another person, and ignore our own self. This is usually a codependent tendency. To love others as we love ourselves implies that we already love ourselves.

As we change our focus on the world, and see ourselves and others as God sees us, life takes on a fully different meaning. When we realize that we all suffer from the same selfish tendencies, the same insecurities, and life hits us all in ways we have never been prepared for, perhaps we can show more grace toward those who stumble even when it hurts us.

Leaving things for God to handle when we are not equipped with omnipotence is a very healing thing to do.

How do you feel when you are around people rejoicing? Can you join them?

How do you feel when around those mourning?

Can you associate with people who do not share your “place” in life?

Can you easily leave the vengeance to God?

What does it mean to overcome evil with good? How can we do this?