Good Morning Friends,
Established frameworks of order are necessary for liberty to be possible but that does not mean that all people in positions of power are good. Some are evil. One would think that in God’s providential ordering of the world, that nothing would exist unless God’s good will and pleasure ordained it so, and yet tyrants still exist. Yet, I for one do not sanction the divine right of evil governments. The problem is that we belong to multiple communities with loyalty and obligations to both. But if we claim special privilege in either of them, we deceive ourselves. The Bible is filled with unlikely trailblazers that take calculated risks in this reality. Sometimes we must resist, but in almost all situations the Christian must accept certain obligations especially those of being a Christian. Faced with this reality we would do well to ponder today’s question realizing that loyalty must first and foremost be to God. So, Are We Following God As Our Leader?
Scripture: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38-42 (NRSV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.
Romans 13: 1-4 (NRSV)
As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NRSV)
The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered. Let anyone who has an ear listen: If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Revelation 13:5-10 (NRSV)
Message: Our culture is very confused, very distracted, and very divided in determining what is right and what is wrong. We face polarized ideologies that compete for our time and energy. And frankly the Pandemic has made it worse for it has taken the voice of the pulpit out of the conversation. The onslaught has gone on for a long time and many a faithful servant has been lost in the battle for balance. Thankfully, an organized State does allow for some degree of unity to occur in the expression of our faith, but not always in a way that has unanimity and consensus. Somehow, we are better off today than a thousand or a hundred years ago. Governments and rulers do serve a purpose, but they do have a time. In today’s text we are confronted with the challenge of being a Christian in a world that is not Christian. The early church faced this same problem. At play here is courage, honor, and respect, but also the possibility of discord and division and death. Sometimes I think God regrets the leaders put in power even by divine direction. Yet if Romans 13 and Revelation 13 is any guide, God will ultimately assert his sovereignty by defying the death sentence and raising Jesus to power. But we do not often see the bigger picture of grace embraced and salvation realized. Still as Christians we must serve God over man discovering that they are not mutually exclusive. It is our purpose as Christians to elevate the minds of others and especially children to be advocates for those who are taken advantage of and to have a contempt of those who are mean realizing that the common good is good for the individual too. Yes, we are to abhor injustice and inhumanity. We are to excel in virtue but still to live if we can, for God does not want our sacrifices so much as our love. Still, some may be called into service like Detrick Bonhoeffer who lived his life in this reality and acknowledged that “Yes, there’s a sadness, but to serve God with everything you have unto death is the greatest joy of life.” Thankfully, we are not likely to be called into such a service but need to pray for those who are and at least look like we are Christians to those who might also be saved.
And So, there is a working with God to be done that requires a synergy and combined effort. We are to glorify God. It is not that God lacks anything: God could create, train, and grow Christians all on His own. But what a privilege for the ministers in the pews to be involved in the formation of His creation, the nurturing of others in mission and ministry in difficult places like Haiti. Therefore, let us always be open to that grace, and to the daily manifestation of it in our own lives, and in the lives of others. We are to appeal to others because we exhibit the characteristics of a Christian that not only knows God but shares this experience effectively with an open heart.
Pray we really grasp the depth of the problem we face. Pray we cooperate with what God is doing. Pray we do what is right not because we are afraid of authority but because it is the right response to God. Pray we work together with God and with God’s timing. Pray we sincerely pray for our leaders and not be a stumbling block to them seeing the glory of God and God’s reconciling love. Pray though, that we realize that God often uses the evil of men for an ultimate good. Pray we realize that our personal sacrifices made for the cause of Christ are not in vain. Pray we have the3 qualities that cultivate grace. Pray therefor we speak the truth about purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, and genuine love that is not our own but of God. Pray we never compromise what is right. Pray, however, that we respect leaders and wait for the Lord. Pray our will is strong and patience longsuffering. Pray we do not sell out but pray our actions of resistance count for something. Pray our actions inspire hope in the face of adversity. Pray we trust in the power of God’s love. Pray we realize that ultimately, we are to share in Christ’s death, but also in his resurrection…the truth and power of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 