Community Devotions

July 23, 2016

This is the Will of God

Scripture

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people - 1 Peter 2:13-15

Observation

Once again the perspicuity of scripture is evident. Question: Do you want to know God’s will? Answer: This is the will of God, that by doing good i.e. be subject/submit you silence the haters. God’s will concerning civil authority and governmental leader revolves around the “S-Bomb” of submission. Yielding to every human institution is difficult but we don’t do it for their sake but “for the Lord’s sake”. In other words, our motive for submission is to do so as unto the Lord who, “suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (2:21). 1 Cor. 13 makes it clear that wrong motives destroy good actions. Our motive is to honor and please our great God and Savior—we honor him by submitting to the leaders he placed over our lives.

Application

Election season is here and the news footage of Christians protesting as maniacal, gun owning, separatists flood our tv screens. I’ve heard Christians even threatening to move to another country or plot out their plan of protest if another "godless politician" is elected. Yet God’s will is to do good by submitting whether it’s pagan government (2:13-17), pagan masters (2:18-25), or pagan husbands (3:1-6). Suffering is expected but we are to entrust ourselves to God. Settle it in my heart and resolve in my mind: Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (v.17).

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for examining my heart to make me more like you. Change me from the inside out. I want to honor you and do things for your sake. Forgive me for having a dishonorable and cynical attitude of what’s happening in our government. You have placed leaders in every human institution in your wisdom and continue to work things out for your purpose and glory. Please give me the grace to cary out your will. I love you. Maranatha.

Posted by John Danganan with

June 4, 2016

in Discipline

Broken Beyond Healing

"He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing” - Proverbs 29:1

Every child of God is reproved, corrected and disciplined by Father God. In fact correction validates us as God’s children so that we can share in his holiness and produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:10-11). The issue is not to be stubborn and stiff-necked resisting reproof. We are to be teachable to correction. It may come in the form of a gentle reminder through Scripture, a difficult confrontation from a concerned brother in Christ or from a regrettable decision filled with pain. Our response to correction should be with an open hearted not a stiff neck. When we continue to be stubborn and resist God’s love there comes a point of no return, a place of brokenness beyond healing.

Endure God’s discipline letting the pain have it’s intended purpose. Do not harden my heart and resist God’s correction in all it’s forms. No-one is above correction. Coming fresh from Foursquare Convention and hearing of peers from Bible college who have disqualified themselves from ministry after repeated corrections is quite sobering. Being a pastor is a gift. Loving as a husband is a grace. Leading as a father is an honor. Shepherding God’s people is a privilege and I do not want to disqualify myself. Surround myself with godly men who love me enough to correct me. I am not above correction. I am not exempt from reproof.