Authorities

 

Authorities 

 

There is something I have seen people do on Facebook that to me is very wrong.  The whole defund the police concept is wrong because it promotes lawlessness.  Also, I have seen people post where a speed trap is.  Usually, police will not stop you unless you’re doing something wrong.  99% of traffic stops are cause and effect.  You do something wrong and well duh you brought it on yourself.  But seriously don’t post online where a speed trap is.  The police are there to weed out the wrong doers and help the others who are driving correctly.  If you’re not following the rules of the road you’re creating hazardous situations for those around you and endangering them.  God actually has the police in place for a reason.  I will show you in five verses in Romans.  

 

Romans 13:1-5

 

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and they will be punished.  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong.  Would you like to live without fear of the authorities?  Do what is right, and they will honor you.  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good.  But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you.  They are God’s servants sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.  So, you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.”  

 

People who don’t speed don’t worry about speeding tickets.  Those who don’t do drugs don’t worry about being caught with illegal drugs.  Lessons that even the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz can teach.  I mean “If I only had a brain.”  

 

God of this city by Chris Tomlin

Don't Cancel; Forgive

 

Don’t cancel; forgive 

 

We live in a mixed-up mess of a world these days with nonsense called cancel culture.  If something triggers or offends us, we want to cancel it.  God has a better plan for us.  That is to forgive.  I mentioned a challenge last week of reading Colossians 3:12-17 and there’s a part of that passage that has had my attention.  

 

Colossians 3:13-15 

 

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

 

See the world tells you when someone does something that upsets you, hold a grudge and demand they be cancelled and ended.  It’s a fairy tale way to live and not even a good fairytale.  I used to struggle a lot with this because when someone hurt me my first reaction was always to be like the captain of the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek and yell internally “shields up!”  Just keep building defenses so I couldn’t be hurt again or let anyone close to me.  I had to Learn a better response with God’s help.  God sent his only son to die a horrible death on a cross to give us forgiveness of our sins and he commands us to forgive others.  It keeps bitterness from growing in our hearts.  People are going to hurt us.  It won’t be easy, but God has our best interest.  He created us and knows what our hearts are made of.  

 

Romans 12:18 

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

 

There’s a better way for you and I to be.  

 

 

To forgive by Al Denson

Mercy for the memories by Geoff Mooreand the Distance 

Friend of a wounded heart by Point ofGrace 

New Year's plan

 

New year’s plan

 

So, I’ve been watching the services for First Baptist Corpus Christi online.  Doctor Brian Hill has issued a challenge and I’m going to share part of it with you because I think it’s a good challenge.  Once it was said that if you want a life group that shares a lot of scripture you go to mine.  I believe in letting God’s word speak for itself.  I have said many times I’m the least important part of this.  The challenge that was issued was to read Colossians 3:12-17 again and again till Easter.  Well, I’m going to add two more verses that every Christian needs to put into practice as well.  Then I will get to that portion.  If you read the entire chapter of Romans 12 it is a guide for life.

 

Romans 12:1-2

 

“And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice— the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good pleasing and perfect.”

 

Colossians 3:12-17

 

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  

Above all clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.  

Let the message about Christ in all its richness fill your lives.  Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

 

Simple and practical.  

 

 

Romans 12:1 by Todd Agnew 

I’m singing by Kari Jobe

Sing your praise to the Lord by RichMullins

Heir of Hope

 

Heir of hope

 

Been doing this Bible study blog thing for a few years now going on 10 to be exact.  We’re starting a new year.  If you are a Christian and you profess Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior you are an heir of hope.  As we start a new year I want you to be reminded of that hope.  

 

Romans 8:31-39

 

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?  If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since he did not spare even his own son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?  No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us?  No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.  

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?  Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep’.)  No, despite all these things overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.  

 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow— not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

That my friends is an assurance to being an heir of hope.

 

 

In Christ Alone by Geoff Moore andAdie

I Belong by Kathryn Scott

If God is for us by DeGarmo and Key

Your love never fails by Newsboys 

One thing remains/ How he loves by Caleb and Kelsey