Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 15, 2011

Sacrifice and Service

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:1-3.
 
“1  Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
 
2  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
 
3  For even Christ did not please Himself;  but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”  Romans 15:1-3.
 
——————————-
 
Sacrifice and service for the good of others is the message of today’s Scripture.  This “good” is most importantly their salvation.  But, in so sacrificing and serving, it is also for our good.
 
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;  to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”  1 Corinthians 9:19-23. 
 
God has blessed us with all the resources that we need to serve others.
 
“But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.”  2 Corinthians 8:7.
 
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”  2 Corinthians 9:8.
 
Christ is our example.
 
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
 
“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.
 
Hebrews 9:28
“so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many;  and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
 
Paul followed Christ’s example, and so should we.
 
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”  2 Timothy 4:5-6.
 
Who is adequate to sacrifice and serve as they should?
 
But, there is hope!
 
God gives us grace to sacrifice and serve as we should.  Paul exclaims:  “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”  Ephesians 3:8.
 
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 
 
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 14, 2011

Conscience, Condemnation, Confidence, and Conviction

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:22-23.
 
“22  The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.  Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
 
23  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith;  and whatever is not from faith is sin.”  Romans 14:22-23.
 
———————
 
It is bad enough that “the fall” corrupted every part of us including our conscience. 
                                     
Here is what the Westminister Larger Catechism states in part:
                            

Question 25:  Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

Answer:  The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; which is commonly called original sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions.

But, Satan won’t even let us rest with such a bad conscience.  Satan accuses us day and night.  

“whatever is not from faith is sin.” 

Titus 1:15
“To the pure, all things are pure;  but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” 

But, there is hope!

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience.

Hebrews 9:14
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:21.

Our sovereign and almighty God has thrown down Satan, the “accuser of our brethern”!

Revelation 12:10
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1. 

We have confidence.  We live by faith.  We don’t shrink back.

“35  Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

 37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

 39  But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:35-39. 

Through God’s grace, we have the conviction that defines faith.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:1-2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 13, 2011

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up …”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:19-21.
 
“18  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
 
19  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
 
20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food.  All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
 
21  It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”  Romans 14:19-21.
 
————— 
 
“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
 
But, we are selfish.  We may not intentionally want to hurt our brother, but we care more about pleasing ourselves than we care about the negative impact of those actions on our brother. 
 
We need help!
 
The Holy Spirit comes to our rescue bearing fruit in our lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23. 
 
God also “works all things in all persons” giving “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” with different gifts given to each for the building up of the body of believers together.  1 Corinthians 12:6-10.
 
God also “so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”  1 Corinthians 12:24-25.
 
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift …. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:7-12.
 
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 9, 2011

The Kingdom of God: Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:13-17.
 
“13  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
 
14  I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself;  but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
 
15  For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
 
16  Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
 
17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:13-17.
 
——————————————-
 
The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  From verse 15, we can include love.  In summary, the kingdom of God is about the fruit of the Spirit.
 
We tend to chase after and cling to food, drink, money, and so many other temporal earthly things.  These things may be good, but if they hurt our brother or sister, and yet we still cling to them, then we are not walking in love.  We need to hang loosely to these temporal earthly things and set our mind on things above. 
 
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4. 
 
And, behind this food, drink, money, and many other temporal earthly things, we need to beware of the lust for these things which causes us to cling to these things and do evil, and which lust for these things also causes us to neglect the spiritual things and doing good.     
 
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21. 
 
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:22-24. 
 
And so, by God’s grace, we set our mind on things above.  We learn to treasure more the fruit of the Spirit.  We learn to walk by the Spirit.  We may enjoy food, drink, money, and many other temporal earthly things, but we hang on loosely to these things.  We look to our brother and sister, and we learn to better help them.  We pray:  “Father, please help me!  My mind is wandering!”  We pick up the Bible to read it.  We meditate on “righteousness and peace and joy” and the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.
 
In conclusion, today, I fly to Michigan for a high school reunion and leave my routine of writing these daily devotions for a few days.  There will be good food and drink and other temporal earthly things.  I can enjoy them, but will I cling to them?  Will I set my mind on things above?  God has given me this daily devotion.  God will also give me other grace for each day to help me hang loosely to these temporal earthly things and to help me to set my mind on things above, “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 8, 2011

Accountability to God: Man’s Need for Credit

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:10-12.
 
“10  But you, why do you judge your brother?  Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
 
11 For it is written,

“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”

12  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:10-12.

———————————–

Today’s Scripture is scary!  Who can stand before the judgment seat of God and rely only on their own merits?!  We need credit beyond what we can produce.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight;  for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:10-20. 

But, there is hope!

Through God’s grace, the needed credit was produced through the most precious and perfect sacrifice of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  The Canons of Dordt

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,”  Romans 4:5

And, this needed credit is not like a little extra credit in school, where for example, a student many produce 89 points out of a possible 100 points, but need only a few extra points to give him or her an “A”. 

Our own works are like rubbish which only anger God.

Question 8.  Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?

Answer.  Indeed we are;  except that we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.  The Heidelberg Catechism

Every point that we need must be gained from Christ and credited to us.  

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,”  Philippians 3:8-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 7, 2011

“We are the Lord’s”; we belong unto our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:5-9.

“5  One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.  Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

6  He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God;  and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

7  For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;

8  for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord;  therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

9  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”  Romans 14:5-9.

————————–

Whether we live or die, “we are the Lord’s.”

We are the Lord’s, because He made us.  He created us.  “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  Psalm 100:3.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

We are the Lord’s, because He bought us.  He redeemed us, His elect, the church of God.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  Acts 20:28.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9.

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;  knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:17-19.

This ownership of Christ is so important and so comforting that The Heidelberg Catechism starts with this principle of ownership.  This principle of ownership is also consistent  with Reformed Doctrine’s emphasis of God’s sovereignty.

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?
 
Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 6, 2011

“the Lord is able to make him stand”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:1-4.
 
“1  Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
 
2  One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
 
3  The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
 
4  Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls;  and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  Romans 14:1-4.  
 
———————————–
 
We are eager to pass judgment on the nonessential opinions and actions of others.  We often like to do that with others (gossip).  If our audience is like us, we can isolate and contrast the other to make us look better in comparison.  “Did you see him?  He only eats vegetables!  He is a weak Christian!”  Although Paul uses the example of one who eats vegetables only, there are so many other opinions and actions about nonessential matters that we use to blow up way beyond their importance in order to isolate and criticize others.
 
God has made His elect children different from each other.  We have different skin color.  We have different accents.  We have different gifts.  We have different ministeries.  It is a blessing, not a mistake.  “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?”  1 Corinthians 12:17.  “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:7.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 
 
“Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls;  and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  Romans 14:4.  
 
We may even fall, but our LORD is able to help us up.  “When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.”  Psalm 37:24  Our LORD is able to make us stand.  Romans 14:4.
 
Today’s Scripture deals with a nonessential area, vegetables.  It does not deal with a matter of sin.  It is not a sin to either eat vegetables or to not eat vegetables.  But, even in essentials areas, matters of sin, we should still be careful how we respond.     
 
We each struggle with sin.  One of us may be strong in one area and not fall into that particular sin (or at least not as much or not as visibly), but that person will not be as strong in another area but will be more inclined to sin in another area and may sin more visibly in that other area.  We all need compassion and patience and nonjudgmental help from each other.
 
Rather than isolate and criticize and ostracize your brother or sister in Christ, wouldn’t you like to be our LORD’s agent to help him or her stand?!
 
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;  each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:1-2. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 5, 2011

We are predestined to holiness and washed clean and led by the Good Shepherd.

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 13:11-14.
 
“11  Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep;  for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
 
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near.  Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
 
13  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
 
14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  Romans 13:11-14.
 
————————– 
 
It is so hard to read this Scripture.  We still struggle with sin.  We still want to keep that corner of our lives that does make provision for sin.
 
But, there is hope!
 
We are predestined to holiness.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
 
We are washed clean and spotless by Christ.
 
“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.
 
Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states:
 
Question 70.  What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
 
Answer.  It is to receive of God the remission of sins, freely, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which he shed for us by his sacrifice upon the cross; and also to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and sanctified to be members of Christ, that so we may more and more die unto sin, and lead holy and unblamable lives. 
 
We are led by “The Good Shepherd” Who guides us in the paths of righteousness.
 
“He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3.  
 
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30 
 
In conclusion, righteousness is part of our salvation.  God fully saves us.  God gives us the will and works within us to “lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”.  God gives us the will and works within us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”.  God gives us the will and works within us to “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
 
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 4, 2011

“love is the fulfillment of the law”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 13:8-10.
 
“8  Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;  for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
 
9  For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
 
10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor;  therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”  Romans 13:8-10.
 
——————————— 
 
Jesus commanded:  “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:12.  Some call it “The Golden Rule”.
 
“And He (Jesus) said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:37-40.
 
Yet, our nature is not to be loving.  Rather, our nature is one of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”. 
 
“13  “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14  “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15  “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16  DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17  AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”   Romans 3:13-17.
 
But, there is hope!
 
We can look to the Holy Spirit and trust Him to produce the fruit of love in our lives.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.
 
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16-24. 
 
Love is the fulfillment of the law.
 
Galatians 5:14
“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “ YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
 
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
 
James 2:8
“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “ YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 2, 2011

Be Subject to Government: “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life …”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 13:1-7.
 
“1  Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 
 
2  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God;  and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
 
3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.  Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
 
4  for it is a minister of God to you for good.  But if you do what is evil, be afraid;  for it does not bear the sword for nothing;  for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
 
5  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
 
6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
 
7  Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom;  fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”  Romans 13:1-7. 
 
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Be subject to government.  Government is part of God’s sovereignty, providence, protection, and care. 
 
Here is what The Belgic Confession states in part:
 
Article 36:  Of Magistrates.

We believe that our gracious God, because of the depravity of mankind, hath appointed kings, princes and magistrates, willing that the world should be governed by certain laws and policies; to the end that the dissoluteness of men might be restrained, and all things carried on among them with good order and decency.  For this purpose he hath invested the magistracy with the sword, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the protection of them that do well.  …

to subject himself to the magistrates;  to pay tribute, to show due honor and respect to them, and to obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the Word of God;  to supplicate for them in their prayers, that God may rule and guide them in all their ways, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God hath established among men.

And, we need to pray for our government leaders.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4. 

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