Submission to Authorities Romans13:1-7

1在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的，凡掌权的都是神所命的。2所以抗拒掌权的，就是抗拒神的命；抗拒的必自取刑罚。3作官的原不是叫行善的惧怕，乃是叫作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的吗？你只要行善，就可得他的称赞，4因为他是神的用人，是与你有益的。你若作恶，却当惧怕，因为他不是空空地佩剑。他是神的用人，是伸冤的，刑罚那作恶的。5所以你们必须顺服，不但是因为刑罚，也是因为良心。6你们纳粮也为这个缘故，因他们是神的差役，常常特管这事。 罗马书13:1-7

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.3 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 he will commend you.4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Romans 13:1-7

Vs1 -2 For us to submit to the authorities.
Vs3 - 5 For the authorities on how they should treat others.

Psalm 119:49-56

求你記念向你僕人所應許的話,叫我有盼望。這話將我救活了。我在患難中，因此得安慰。驕傲的人甚侮慢我，我卻未曾偏離你的律法。耶和華啊，我記念你從古以來的典章，就得了安慰。我見惡人離棄你的律法，就怒氣發作，猶如火燒。我在世寄居，素來以你的律例為詩歌。耶和華啊，我夜間記念你的名，遵守你的律法。我 所 以 如 此,是因我守你的訓詞。 詩119:49-56

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law. I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them. Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. Psalm 119:49-56

There's two verses in this passage that really encourages me.

Vs 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
In our suffering our comfort from God is His promise to us that he'll love and bless us.

Vs 51 The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law.
As Servant of God me would come to a point where we would be mock and unfairly treated by others, at that point what should we do? The author said that even at that situation he do not turn away from God's law...

Confession

I got a confession to make...

Ok, here goes. The promise to make this blog to a weekly blog has failed. I'm tweeting more (ok not as much as others) compared to blogging.

There I said it....

Colossians 1:28-29

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 (New International Version)

Heard this sharing from someone today, and it set me thinking and was (can I say) greatly motivated by it. The few pointers that I pick up during the sharing was;

1) We were called to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves not anything but Him.
2) Paul told us that he labor and struggle for this not with his own strength, but energy that came from God.

It reminds me what I am really called to do and that behind all this is God and He will gives me energy.