Something Different for May - Day 25 - Respect for Authority

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Romans 13:1-7 NLT

Prayer - Day 25

Holy God, 

                 Politics are such a pain—help me remember no authority is put over me except what You’ve established. Please give me the grace to submit appropriately to those who govern me, and to give to everyone what I owe, especially love, respect and honor. Amen. 

Praying Through Romans - www.crosswalk.com

And We Were Slinging...

There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
Luke 15:13-16 The Message

When we think of mud-slinging, we usually think politics. Who can find the dirt - who can sling it with the most effect. It gets ugly real fast! And it would seem logical to me that those who want to sling the mud don't want me to look at them too closely. Could be part of their ploy. If I'm busy looking at the mud, I might miss the obvious about the mud slinger...which could be worse than the mud slingee. Slinger wants to make himself look good by making Slingee look bad.

When I was a kid, I remember one time seeing my father slinging mud at the back of our car. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, so I wandered closer and asked. He told me the tags were out on the car and he didn’t have the money to get them renewed so he was covering up the sticker with a little mud, but wanted to make it look as “natural” as possible. "That way," he said, "I don't look like a lawbreaker, I just look like someone who doesn't wash his car." I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone all the reasons that was wrong...I can't even go there, but it's typical of a compromised life.

We run into those same kinds of people who have known who Christ is, who have walked with Him but then have decided - for whatever reason - that they want to live their life the way THEY want to. So they start justifying - slinging mud - that way they don't look so bad when compared to the mud. After all, a pigsty is a great place for finding mud to sling. We need to pray that - like the prodigal son - they will wake up to the Truth that they are living in the equivalent of pig slop and waste.

But God has called us to be holy. To be pure and undefiled. Christ is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. You CAN get there - even if you come from the pigsty. 2nd Corinthians 6:17 tells us, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 

Come on out and sling off that mud.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your Word that instructs us in detail regarding our walk with You. Help us to write Your instructions on our hearts. Let any mud in our lives be what is used to heal our blinded eyes. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen