Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Verses 1-2
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Verse 8
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Verse 12
Quite honestly, I'm glad that God has set my iniquities and secret sins in the light of his presence. I can't hide anything from him. I want it all out where he can see it.
Genesis 1:28 Legal Force
God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over...every living thing that moves on the earth."
The previous lesson where Jesus commands that we give "caesar" his due show us that citizens have obligations to their government. The magazine is departing from the reading of Matthew to embark on a week study of "church and state."
Obviously, Old Covenant Israel knew nothing of "separation of church and state" because they were a theocracy. I covered this a little bit in yesterday's entry. The new covenant communityis a "deliberately separate people that exists within a civil society governed by some kind of civil magistrate."
So, what is "state." "Simply put, government is legal force. It may justifiably make us do certain things and prevent us from doing others." However, it does not originate from human devices (even though mankind thinks that they have come up with it themselves). It still comes from God. This universe has always operated under the rule and authority of its Creator. Human government only exists because God chooses to delegate some authority to humans. This began when today's verse was originally stated. God gave Adam and Eve dominion or authority over his creation.
Augustine, in City of God, says that government, after the fall, is necessary to restrain evil. It "performs its divinely ordained task when it punishes evil."
Yes, all governments are corrupt to some degree, because humans are involved. But this does not permit us to be anarchists. In fact, without this human authority, we might not have many of the freedoms we have.
It's review day, so I'll look back over the last six lessons to see if I learned anything. I think I might have, this time.
Day 232--Healing the Enemy--Luke 22:47-53
Jesus does something remarkable here. He touches and heals one of the people who is there to arrest him and lead him to his death. I put myself in the place of both the servant he healed and one of his disciples to try to get a perspective on the event. Who among us would have the spirit to do something like that? I'm not sure I would. But this is what Jesus wants of us, as his children. He wants us to have the same spirit as he does, that which would actually expend energy to heal or help someone who is trying to hurt us!
Day 233--Looking for the Living One in a Cemetery--Luke 24:1-12
Jesus's followers get their first indication of his resurrection. The women see it first, and run to tell the disciples. Most of them think the women are crazy, but Peter jumps up and runs to the tomb to see for himself. He's still confused when he gets there, but knows something has happened. I should have this excited spirit that Peter showed here, ready to jump up and run at an opportunity to see Jesus (or to see where he has been).
Day 234--Life-Light--John 1:12-18
The Word has become flesh and "moved into our neighborhood." Mankind has gotten a second chance with the advent of the Savior. God has come to us in human flesh. The ramifications of this are more than stunning, and it takes a lifetime to understand them. Obviously, I'm still working on it. But the point is, God still lives among us, in spirit form. Jesus has never left. Even though he is physically at the right hand of God, awaiting the time for his return, he is here in the form of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should live as though Jesus is sitting right next to us. Because he is actually even closer than that, isn't he?
Day 235--Trusting and Expectant--John 3:9-11,14-15,17-21
Jesus is trying to explain being "born again" to Nicodemus. One thing he tells him that whoever trusts in him is "acquitted." This means that none of our sins are held against us. They are erased. But the thing is, this "Life-Light" has come to the world, and most of the world goes scurrying for the darkness when the Light shines on them. Those of us who have been born from above by the spirit welcome this Light. It shines on the work that we do and identifies it as the work of God.
Day 236--Do You Want To Get Well?--John 5:1-9
This is the account of the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus heals the man, telling him to get up and start walking. The question is, "Do you want to get well?" Do we want to get well. If we do, all we have to do is get up and start walking. Sounds simple doesn't it? But it turns out not to be. Because, sometimes, we just don't really want it.
Day 237--No Condemnation--John 8:1-11
A wonderfully beautiful passage about the woman caught in adultery. Jesus scatters her accusers with some simple writing in the sand (what did he write??), and tells her that he does not condemn her. He sends her on her way, telling her to stop sinning. We have this promise, as well. We are not condemned. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 May we live in this freedom and stay free.
That's it for today. Some good stuff in the last week or so.
Grace and peace, friends.