Romans 13:1-7 Do Not Resist Arrest

Romans 13:1-7 NIV
Ok.. I've been waiting for this lesson.

Message for the day: If you are asked by an officer of the law to stop; STOP. Do not attempt to flee. Do not resist arrest. Do not assault the officer in any manner; physically or verbally. Just, don't do it. It's not the way to go. It will not turn out well for you or anyone else.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience." (vs 1-5)

There are ways to peacefully protest. Harming or attempting to harm police officers or civilians who might get in the way is definitely not the way to go. Looting or damaging the property others have worked hard to obtain or maintain is definitely not the way in which a Christian would go.

May God grant us peaceful resolutions and reconciliation. May He help us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Remember that Jesus did not raise a hand to defend himself nor would he allow his disciples to fight when he was arrested.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 18:1-14 Father's Will

John 18:1-14 NIV
After he had finished praying, Jesus was arrested. His friend, his follower, his betrayer was at hand. He told the cohort who came to arrest him that he was the one that they were looking for. Yet, they were reluctant to arrest him. He had to remind them that they had come to arrest him before they actually did. Whether they knew it or not, they do not appear to impressed with having to do the Father's will. Somehow, it seemed a bit distasteful to them.

We are often called to do things that we might find distasteful. We do not always understand why God would allow or not allow something to happen. We don't quite get where He's going and leading all of the time. He sometimes calls us to do things which we would rather not do based on our own traditions, personal desires, or sense of right and wrong. But, Jesus had to die for the world (it was His Father's will) and in order to do that, someone had to arrest him. The lot fell to this detachment of soldiers. It was their job. It was their duty; however, distasteful they found it, to take their part in the death of the one who would die for their (our) sins.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 20 - By Word and Deed

Those of you who have heard my sermons have heard this exhortation quite often: "Go and proclaim the Good News by both word and deed."  The Gospel needs to be proclaimed so that other might hear and believe. But, in proclaiming it with our lips our actions need to fit what we preach. Our lifestyles are reflections of what we say. Others hear not only what we say, but what we do.

Prophets often took this "doing what you speak" to the extreme. According to God's word to Isaiah, the prophecy against Egypt and Cush was to be lived or acted out by Isaiah. He was to strip himself of the sackcloth and sandals that he wore as the prophecy that "the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt’s shame." (Isa 20:4 NIV)

I'm thinking that none of us quite measure up to being the dedicated and faithful servant of God as Isaiah was; none of us will probably be asked to strip as a sign that our enemies will be overthrown and shamed. I'm not sure how Isaiah managed it. But, I'm quite sure we'd be arrested long before three years was up and locked away someplace for some time to come.

While we may not be as zealous as some of the prophets called by God, that does not negate the fact that we have been called by God and are to share the good news of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ to people near and far. We do this with word and deed. We do this by sharing the story with those who would hear and by living our new life in Christ for all to see.

And, we are zealous about it. Maybe, not as zealous as Isaiah; but we zealously share this good news because it is Good News, indeed!

God's Peace - Pr. J