Monday, January 14, 2019

GOVERNMENT

Today’s Reading: Romans 13

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

The Temple of Hephaestus, also known as the Hephaisteion, or earlier as the Theseion, is a well-preserved Greek temple; it remains standing largely as built. The temple was officially inaugurated in 416-415 BC. It is a Doric peripteral temple, and is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. From the 7th century until 1834, it served as the Greek Orthodox church of St. George Akamates.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Romans 13:8

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

 

Not only does Paul not advocate the overthrow of the government, he actually tells us to be good subjects. Caesar, the Emperor, was the focus of the official “religion.” Social concerns, such as human rights, were unheard of. Paul was following the Lord Jesus, who said when asked about paying taxes, “Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…” (Matthew 22:21a). The state and man’s religion have gone hand-in-hand throughout most of human history. Imposing buildings, such as the one pictured above, have been created to impress the people with the authority of the state and the state religion. Those early believers in Jesus were meeting in their homes, not in magnificent temples. Paul taught that their power was in “love,” not in revolution or in political activism. Loving is not optional for the follower of Christ. It is a debt that we must pay. No wonder thousands of Jews, Greeks, and Romans believed in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, please remind me daily of my debt of love. It’s payback time. You have loved me and I need to love You and others in return. Please show me the practical ways to express love today. I pray this, dear Jesus, expecting Your Holy Spirit to motivate me. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have a grandson-in-law who is a police officer. I pray for his safety each morning. He is responsible for three of my great-grandchildren. The other day, he and his partner made a major drug bust. We could agree that he was acting, as Paul wrote, “as God’s minister to you for good” (Romans 13:4a).

I received an e-mail recently which is a positive example of one way to influence government decisions. It was from Pastor Wally Magdangal, who was reflecting on our past involvement with him. It was in 1992, just days before Christmas, that I received a fax from Amnesty International that Pastor Magdangal was about to be executed by the Saudi authorities for the crime of baptizing Muslims into the Christian faith. While we were live on air with 100 Huntley Street across the continent, I was able to reach, by telephone, the Saudi Ambassador at his embassy in Ottawa. I read the fax on national television and, of course, he denied that his country would do any such thing. Thank God, the pastor was released on Christmas Eve and was on a flight back to his home in the Philippines Christmas Day. Here’s a quote from Wally’s e-mail. “You appealed for my life and freedom back in December of 1992. I am alive today and serving THE LORD JESUS CHRIST because of Christians like you who prayed for me and advocated for my release from the death sentence in Saudi Arabia.” All who gave financially to pay for the TV airtime, and even the long-distance phone call, have a part in Wally’s release. Most days my “do what is good” is a little, unnoticed thing; but God takes notice, and that’s what counts.

Yours for loving one another,

David

P.S. Something special happened to me five years ago today. Following a time of fasting and prayer, which ended with the Sunday evening service, I went to sleep as usual. At exactly 4:00 a.m. Monday I was awakened abruptly. I know that the Lord downloaded His call to do this blog. It happened again the same way two months later. On the digital clock it again read “4:00 a.m.” … the Lord reconfirmed to me the start date of the blog, Sunday, June 3rd, 2012, the day after our 50th anniversary on television (you can click here to find out more details from the  video I put on the “About 100 Words” section of my blog).

15 thoughts on “Monday, January 14, 2019

  1. It is enlightening to look back to the beginning of the blog. So thankful that it is continuing. I don’t believe I have ever missed one day and I know I have grown in the knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Thank you so much family and friends.

  2. Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul…
    and for all Your children throughout this world and through the ages. Please bless all Your workers and help us all to do good today. We’re in a war and we need Your armour and Your strength… Please help us to be like Paul and rejoice in all we do wherever You lead us. Be glorified in and through us, we ask in Jesus’s greatest of all names, amen

  3. I pray for Saudi Arabia daily and all the middle east. If God loves them, I sure as shootin’ do too. How they need our prayers!!
    God bless all saints this gift of a day.

    Always loved Willie Nelson’s voice:
    Softly and Tenderly by Willie:
    https://youtu.be/gM690cvG650

    • Thank you Lynda for that worshipful link; I went down to worshiip with the Gaithers singing “Jesus Messiah”!! and was blessed!

    • amen Lynda! I also pay for the Middle East; but I remember years back that part of the world was always fighting, and I believe it always will until Jesus returns, also remember God sees it all!

      I also pray for the President of the USA! Mr. Donald Trump! I can’t imagine how the people are coping, air lines are suffering, goods being transported are at a stand still……Lord I don;’t understand this BUT I know that You do understand and I also that You are helping the people. Thank You Lord in Jesus Name we Pray amen

    • TY Lynda; I also like Willie Nelson; he spoke one time of his journey; it brought me to tears; also listened to a Flash mob in Tweedle Kamer gebow, singing Amazing Grace……bless you Lynda

  4. So we are going into our 7th year with 100words.ca. Wow! “And their works do follow them.”(Rev. 14:13) can surely be said of David. Agreeing with your prayer Rob. May God bless all saints.

  5. The third year being with this blog; and am thankful for it. Thank you David, I believe you are enjoying your new life with Jesus!!
    Thank you Ron, Ann and Reynold for continuing your Dad’s vision and obedience to God’s call.

  6. How come most of the time I can hear the Scripture of the day read out loud and I really enjoy this factor, BUT today the “reading icon” was not available…….

    again please pray for the people in the USA! God bless the Canadians that sent pizzas to Alaska and to others states THank you Lord for this wonderful help!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.