BBD 01.17.08 No Fear
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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01.17.08
No Fear
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. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God,
and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 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. 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, an avenger to
execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not
only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. - Romans 13:1-5.
In Hempstead, New York a strange thing occurred. When police officers tried
to stop a car for committing a traffic violation the driver tried to out run
the officers. Now, that is not that unusual but read on. The man did stop
though after having an accident and then he tried to out run officers on
foot. The man even left his two-year-old son in the car but thankfully, the
boy was not injured. Here is the strange thing, the man was not in
possession of any alcohol or illegal substances and did not have a criminal
record. Police are puzzled by the actions of this individual.
Can you imagine being afraid, so afraid of being stopped for even a minor
traffic offense that you have to try to run away leaving your two-year-old
child behind? What a sad way to live! Herein we find the benefit of living
in accordance with the dictates of the government of the country where we
reside. The apostle Paul writes, "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." Living an upright life according to
the laws of the land pays great benefits. The benefits include a lack of
fear when a police vehicle or an officer comes near, and a sense of peace
knowing you have not committed some criminal act that would subject you to
sudden arrest and imprisonment.
The Roman Empire during the time of Christ and of the early church was at
times very brutal. However, it was an institution that God allowed to exist
as it brought stability to the known world. That stability provided for a
relative ease of travel and communication. The ease of travel and
communication facilitated the spread of the Gospel through the known world
and beyond. The governments of our time can also work to our benefit and
benefit the spread of the Gospel by preventing chaos and uncertainty thereby
providing stability.
Fear is a terrible thing, which strikes at the very heart of a person. But
we do not have to live in fear of our governmental officials. We can live
upright lives obeying the laws of the land (So long as those laws are not in
clear contradiction with the Word of God.) and by doing so eliminate that
source of fear from our lives.
Copyright © 2008. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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