Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 14
Saturday


FOR THOSE
WHO SERVE

READ:
Romans 13:1-7
____________________________________

When my son Steve walks into a room, he often gets immediate respect. People want to shake his hand. They smile. They congratulate him. They thank him.

It happens at church. It happens in restaurants. It happens wherever he goes__as long as he is wearing his uniform of the United States Navy.

While in uniform, Steve gets instant respect because everyone knows that he is serving. He has given up many personal freedoms and desires so that he can serve his country.

People respect service. We honor police officers who serve. We pay homage to military personnel who serve. But do we give the same honor and respect to those who are in an even greater service__service to God? Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers?

Scripture tells us to give honor to whom honor is due (Rom 13:7). specifically, it tells us that double honor goes to those who direct the affairs of the church through teaching and preaching (1 Tim. 5:17).

Instead of criticizing your pastor, teacher, or spiritual leader, let others hear your words of gratitude and praise for their service. Hold them up in prayer. God's servants deserve our respect and honor. __Dave Branon
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````````````````````PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE`````````````````

`````````` . Send a card or note of appreciation to your pastor.```````
``````````` . Thank your teacher for a lesson that helped you.```````
```````````` . Ask your leaders how you can pray for them.`````````
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We honor God when we honor our leaders.

************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 will 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 because 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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Scripture reminds us many times about our shared need to build
each other up in the faith. In today's Bible reading we are told to
give "honor to whom honor" is due (Rom. 13:7). Romans 12:10
exhorts us to give "preference to one another." Some additional
"one another" passages are: "Be of the same mind toward one
another" Rom. 12:16), "receive one another" (Rom 15:7),
"admonish one another" (Rom 15:14), agree with one another
(1 Cor. 1:10), "serve one another" (Gal. 5:13), "be kind to one
another" (Eph. 4:32); "[submit] to one another" (Eph. 5:21), and
"exhort one another" (Heb. 3:13). __Dennis Fisher