Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 23
Sunday


WATER
PROBLEMS

READ:
Romans 13:1-7
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There is no authority
except from God, and
the authorities that
exist are appointed by
God. __Romans 13:1
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Our church family was excited to see work begin on our new sanctuary. Each Sunday we eagerly looked at the big hole in the ground. But progress seemed slow.

It all came down to water. Too much in one place and not enough in another. An underground spring was one problem. Construction could not continue until inspectors were satisfied that water was being directed away from the site. at the same time, city officials said we didn't have enough water coming into the building for a sprinkler system__so new lines for water had to be added. None of us wanted the project to be slowed down by these rulings, but we realized that if codes weren't followed, we would face serious problems in the future.

Sometimes we grumble about government and other officials. But a proper respect for authority honors God. Paul, who had his own problems with those in charge, wrote, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities" (Rom. 13:1). And later, "Do what is good, and you will have praise from [the authorities]" (v.3).

As we let God's Spirit teach us, we can have a healthy attitude toward government. It's for our good, the testimony of our faith, and most of all for God's honor. __Dave Branon

```````Thank You, Lord, for people who are willing to serve in```````````
``````our local, state, and national governments. We pray that```````````
`````````they will seek righteousness and justice and that you```````````
``````will help us to respect those you have placed over us.``````````````
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Respect for authority brings glory to God.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 13:1-7********************

1 Let every soul be subject
to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority
except from God, and the
authorities that exist are
appointed by God.

2 Therefore whoever resists
the authority resists the
ordinance of God, and those
who resist witll bring
judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror
to good works, but to evil.
Do you want to be unafraid
of the authority? Do what is
good, and you will have
praise from the same. 4 For
he is God's minister to you
for good. But if you do evil,
be afraid; for he does not
bear the sword in vain; for
he is God's minister, and
avenger to execute wrath on
him who practices evil.

5 Therefore you must be
subject, not only because of
wrath but also for
conscience' sake. 6 For
becasue of this you also pay
taxes, for they are God's
ministers attending
continually to this very
thing. 7 Render therefore to
all their due: taxes to whom
taxes are due, customs to
whom customs, fear to
whom fear, honor to whom
honor.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Because they are appointed by God (v.1), Paul used the title
"God's minister" (v.4) to describe governments. Christians have a
legitimate, though not unlimited, responsibility to obey them (Ex.
1:15-2:2; dAn. 3:14; 6:12-13; Mark 12:17; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29). The
basis for this obedience is an affirmation of God's sovereignty. He is
the One who sets up kings and empires on earth in order to restrain
and punish sin (Rom. 13:1, see also Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2; Rom. 9:17).
Other New Testament teachings about how a Christian ought to
relate to governing authorities are found in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Titus
3:1, and 1 Peter 2:13-17.