Heralds Digest

   “ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ” Romans 13 : 10 , 14 KJV If the previous chapter of the book of Romans is acknowledged to call believers to a living, holy and acceptable service sacrifice, it is important for all good citizens to underscore the importance of regulations and government policies in the provision of these services. Good citizens are products of a sane environment because of an uncompromising enforcement of regulations and government policies. While there is a good side to human government as well as there can also be an evil side, good citizens and believers are here called to abide by the instrument of love law: “ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour (including hostile partners, wicked associates, and bad leaders) ”. Love law produces the good works in the heart through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...

  “ 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. ” Romans 13 : 3 - 4 NKJV In human governance, citizenship comes with rights and responsibilities; while most citizens would like to play up their rights and play down their responsibilities. Whereas, since God is the Judge in divine governance, citizenship is mainly concerned about responsibilities. For God is a righteous Rewarder of every believer’s rights, as long as he does what is right always. Little wonder why believers are not called into the practices of human rights activism, freedom fighting, civil rights advocacy, etc? It is because they believe and uphold the scriptural injunction that the responsibility of good gover...

  “ Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts .” Romans 13 : 7 , 10 , 14 NKJV While there is no doubt in the fact that it is God’s will for His children to be good citizens, many do readily have concerns about believers’ submission to bad government. For example, what if the governing authorities are not God’s ministers, but instruments of the Devil? The fundamental truth in all relationships, including government, family members, project partners, and co-citizens, is that relationships with our earthly elements is a reflection of our relationship with God. When the scriptures attest to the fact that “ the authorities that exist are appointed by God” , it called out believers’ faith in the sovereignty of God. With the supreme ...

  “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.” Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ When the scriptures command “ Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities ”, there appears to be a complete oblivion of the reality of corrupt and wicked administration. The misconception of many citizens on the governing authorities is that government is mostly misinterpreted as a personality drive, instead of a system drive. Good government is the collective responsibility of all citizens, and not the absolute job specifications of an identifiable personality at the top. Therefore, irrespective of the mistreatment supposedly received from any personality drive in a government, a good citizen is focussed on good works as the necessary fulfillment of his own responsibilities to good government. And if the righteous truly believes that there is no authority except from God, then he knows ...

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:14 NKJV) Provision of the flesh includes attractive decorations with regalia that command dignity and respect. The only problem is that the pressure to provide these decorations often expose the heart to danger. Whether intentioned or provoked, every engagement in unrighteousness underscores the practice of evil. While others may be careless about rules, believers are called to walk properly, in holiness and righteousness. Unless we accept to be fully covered by Jesus Christ, we cannot be free from all appearance of evil and attractions to unrighteousness.