Respect for Authority
1Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience.
6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.
Love Fulfills Gods Requirements
8Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. 9For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting--and any other commandment--are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[a] 10Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.
11Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 13:9 Lev 19:18.
3 comments:
Romans 13
Nuff said eh
14But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
And the handbook continues. How cool that something can be so timeless. I am pretty sure when he says to obey the laws; he never intended that for speeding, hehe. A real question that always has intrigued me when reading about end times is how it is always referred to as right around the corner. I know that time is relevant, but it seems to me in my infinite little mind that he seems to be referring to something a little closer than 2,000 years later. But as I said, His word is timeless.
12The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.
Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living fellas. We should strive to hold each other accountable to this.
In Christ,
cas
Good mornning guys,
First, I asked that you'll pray for me and encourage me to not only read the versus daily but also make comments with my christain brothers.
Romans 13. One of the greatest gifts of God is Love. The society that we live in would be a much better place if everyone "loved their neighbor".
vs 11. Another reason for right living is that you konw how late it is; time is running out. The frequency and magnitude of natural diasters should be a reminder that indeed time is running out. And we should begin living right today and not tomorrow. Once again pray that I continue to grow in my faith and commitment to the Lord.
God bless.
Afternoon, gents-
3For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong.
This really jumped out at me, because I struggle with this almost everyday. I work pretty insane hours, and the way my group works, is that there's an expectation about how long we're here based upon how long it takes for most people to get stuff done. I on the other hand work just long enough to get my stuff done, and then leave to be with my family, at least that is the intent. I struggle with not falling in line and "hanging around the water cooler" with the other guys, mostly cause I don't have time to do that. I've chosen my priorities already, God, my family, my job, and then me. So by the time I get down the list to my job, I'm almost out of time, so by the time I get to me, there shouldn't be any time. But I certainly can procrastinate and waste time with the best of them. I am doing well enough to get the things I need to get done done, but its always super stressful. Anyway, I'm praying that I may be well-disclipined so I'm not so nervous or paranoid when I hear my boss's shoes clicking around the corner. In short I'm one of those who fears authority because I fall short at work, purely out of effort sometimes. I want to do the right thing all the time. Lord help me to do this.
In His name,
crb
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