Monday, December 25, 2017

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Friday, 22 December 2017 "Politics—God Is With Us!" by William R. Carlson - Romans 13:1-7

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Friday, 22 December 2017 "Politics—God Is With Us!" by William R. Carlson - Romans 13:1-7
Romans 13:1 Everyone is to obey the governing authorities. For there is no authority that is not from God, and the existing authorities have been placed where they are by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities is resisting what God has instituted; and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are no terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to be unafraid of the person in authority? Then simply do what is good, and you will win his approval; 4 for he is God’s servant, there for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid! Because it is not for nothing that he holds the power of the sword; for he is God’s servant, there as an avenger to punish wrongdoers. 5 Another reason to obey, besides fear of punishment, is for the sake of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes; for the authorities are God’s public officials, constantly attending to these duties. 7 Pay everyone what he is owed: if you owe the tax-collector, pay your taxes; if you owe the revenue-collector, pay revenue; if you owe someone respect, pay him respect; if you owe someone honor, pay him honor.
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Doing your taxes, voting, obeying traffic laws–so many things that are part of our everyday lives are connected to the government. Paul’s words in Romans 13 sends the message that there are expectations on government officials who provide the means to a peaceful and ordered life for everyone. Likewise, there are expectations for Christians as they fulfill their citizenship responsibilities. We are told to “live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27, GW).
Speaking of politics, it was the edict of the Roman government that sent Mary and Joseph on a journey to Bethlehem. God worked in that situation, as uncomfortable as it might have been for a very pregnant Mary.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the child who was to be known as Immanuel continued with these words, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
We have dual citizenship, both of our communities are of God's Kingdom. We know that in the ordinary affairs of life, God is with us.
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Hymn for Today: "Celebrate Immanuel's Name" by Charles Wesley
1. Celebrate Immanuel’s name,
the Prince of life and peace.
God with us, our lips proclaim,
our faithful hearts confess.
God is in our flesh revealed;
Heav’n and earth in Jesus join.
Mortal with Immortal filled,
and human with divine.
2. Fullness of the deity in
Jesus’ body dwells,
Dwells in all His saints and me
when God His Son reveals.
Father, manifest Thy Son;
breathe the true incarnate Word.
In our inmost souls make
known the presence of the Lord.
3. Let the Spirit of our Head
through every member flow;
By our Lord inhabited,
we then Immanuel know.
Then He doth His name express;
God in us we truly prove,
Find with all the life of grace

and all the power of love.
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Thought for Today:  Pay everyone what he is owed: if you owe the tax-collector, pay your taxes; if you owe the revenue-collector, pay revenue; if you owe someone respect, pay him respect; if you owe someone honor, pay him honor.(Romans 13:7)
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Please pray: That many people in Hungary will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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