Tag: Deuteronomy 28
Day 2–Servants of God
Scripture reading for March 17: Romans 13:1-5 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrong-doer.”
Most first responders, even volunteers, are a part of the government provided to serve and protect the people under their jurisdiction. The fire departments, sheriff departments, municipal police, emergency medical teams, and emergency management are all there as servants. And God’s Word declares that God has really appointed them! God instructs the people to be subject to them and respect them as His servants. God has provided them to watch over the people and reward and protect those who do good and to apprehend and punish those doing harm and evil. God even authorizes the use of deadly force. There are some instances where that is necessary to protect the innocent and stop evil from being perpetrated.
God is a God of order and justice. He is a lawgiver Who demands obedience and lists the rewards for obedience and the consequences of disobedience. He gives each person a free will to choose and encourages them to obey with promised blessings. He warns of curses overtaking those who live in rebellion or disobedience. (Deuteronomy 28) All those in authority are appointed by God and will ultimately answer to God for their execution of their job. God demands impartiality and justice because those in leadership reflect His rule.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing justice and righteousness reflected in Your order in this universe. Thank You for placing those in authority to carry out Your Word and laws. As one under Your authority, help me to reflect Your holiness and justice and compassion to this world. Amen.
Jesus teaches an impossibility!
Scripture reading for October 25: Luke 16-18
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.” Luke 16:13-14
Jesus spoke very plainly: “You cannot serve both God and Money.” In Christian circles today, there is a popular variation of the Gospel called the “prosperity” teaching. This teaching says that God wants you to be rich in order to use your riches as a testimony to the world of the blessings of God’s kingdom. Now God’s Word does proclaim blessing on God’s people for obedience and faith. Those who walked in faith were often blessed and obtained great wealth in this world. But God is more concerned about our hearts. He said it is impossible to serve two masters.
The Pharisees had a teaching very similar to this prosperity message of today. They taught that God’s blessing was on the rich and that if a person was poor, he was under a curse. This had some scriptural truth to it from Deuteronomy 28 and other places in the Old Testament. However, Jesus came to help them see things in a different light. He told a story about a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. These two real people lived on earth and both died. At death there was a great reversal. The rich man ended up in the torment of Hell. The poor beggar, Lazarus, ended up in Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort and blessing. They could see each other but were separated by a great gulf. (Luke 16:22-26)
This in itself struck at the hearts of those who loved “money”! Jesus went on to tell about the conversation in the underworld between this rich man and Father Abraham. The rich man asked to have Lazarus come and bring a drop of water to comfort him in his torment. This request was refused. It was impossible! This rich man then asked about sending Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers so that they would not end up in Hell. This request was also denied. The Law and Prophets provided all the warning that God was offering to them.
We have this Word from Jesus today to warn us as well! He has risen from the dead and is speaking to us with an unchanging Word. Pursue the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not money! Beware of the spirit of the Pharisees, who loved money. Beware of those who preach a false prosperity gospel! It is impossible to serve Jesus and money!