Spiritual Awakenings: Authenticity in Service

Obey the government, for God is the One who put them in place. All government has been put in place only by Gods allowing.

So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.

For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who are doing wrong. So do what they say and you will get along well. This is Wisdom.

The authorities are put there to help you but if you are doing something wrong, then you will be afraid and filled with fear.The authorities are established there for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong.

So, you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep form being punished and to keep a clear conscience.

Pay your taxes too, for the same reason.

For government workers need to be paid so that they can continue the work that God intended for them to do.

Give everyone what you owe them: pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to whom it is due.

Romans 13: 1-7 (New Living Translation) Open the Good Book and take a look.

What!?

Okay, first let us see what government means. Government is the system, a group of people with rules and laws, and officials that define and control the country, or place, or territory borders you live in... The World.

Now, let's define authorities. Authorities mean those who created the rules. Root word is 'author'. An example is... An author writes a book.

In our very own homes we have a type of government. We are all born with parents or some type of authority over us. We are not pushed out into the world. We do not stand up, and immediately start walking, talking, learning, and feeding ourselves.

Servants Attitude Example Given:

When we send our children out in public, such as school, grocery stores, or other peoples homes we would want them to go by certain rules, such as being respectful to elders. So we tend to think God would feel the same as we do, as parents.

"Don't run through the hallways, you might hurt yourself or knock someone else down." Or

"Don't steal from the store, pay for the things you want to buy." Common ethics, we would think. But how do we feel when they do steal, or hurt themselves or someone else, or are rude to someone?

Even if our child's attitude is not toward us, their parents, It's disheartening.

We may think: Where did I go wrong with my parenting? I didn't raise them that way. They don't act like that at home. Why would they not listen to something I ask of them, only because I know it will help them?

More than likely we ask them to do these things because we've ran down the hall, or cursed with bad consequences for our actions. That's why there are certain rules or laws put in place, because the people have learned from experience.

How would we feel if our children demanded their way and followed their own rules?

As Children of Our Father, and our Example given, Jesus Christ, we want to be obedient. It is the best representation of Love when we do what our parent asks. By following the things they ask of us.

When we hear of our children representing us by following rules, or laws, amongst others, (whether the others are doing it or not,) we are pleased, and we are so happy we can't help but smile!

We understand that this Truth is hard to swallow.

Especially for us who are conspirators, skeptics, rebels, and those of us who are just plain mad at the government for doing the things we don't agree with. We think, if they would just do things the way we felt were right, considering we know what's best, then we would do things the way they want.

The truth is we trust God enough to know and believe He knows what is best, even better than we do. We are all students learning in God School.

We have learned everything that The Word will ask us to do is for our best interest, sometimes we don't quite understand. But as Children of Faith in Serving as Jesus Christ does, and walking in a Servants Attitude as He does. We know that He will never let us down.

We follow Jesus Christs Way of A Servants Attitude because He gives us standards instead of rules. Standards show us that He does what He tells us to do and shows us how to do it.

How?

By having A Servants Attitude Himself! Rules say do this and that, and most leaders will not get in there and get their hands dirty. They just bark orders and do not do what they tell us to do. We understand sometimes the word 'obedience' seems oppressive, and tiring. The difference is Jesus Christ is our Example Given. He leads us by standards, and NOT RULES. That is Good News!

As we said in our management career... "Anyone can be taught to make a pizza, or run a cash register, but A Servants Attitude is always promoted and priceless."

You can't pass up A Servants Attitude without wanting to promote them. If someone has a bad attitude others don't really want to be around them much. We don't want to listen to their advice or put them in a place of training others.

So, in honor of Jesus Christ, whom we do trust in fully, we open our Servants Heart to have A Servants Attitude. And want to be brave enough to walk in His Ways.

¹³ For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, ¹⁴ or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

¹⁵ It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. ¹⁶ For you are free, yet you are God’s servants, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. ¹⁷ Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

Servants

¹⁸ You who are servants must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. ¹⁹ For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. ²⁰ Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

²¹ For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

²² He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.

²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.

²⁴ He personally carried our sins
in His body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By His wounds
you are healed.

²⁵ Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:13-25 (New Living Translation)

Pay all your debts, except the debt of love to others.

You can never finish paying that!

We should never retire from living out A Servants Heart by having A Servant Attitude!

If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill All the requirements of the law.

For The Commandments against adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting- and any other Commandment are all summed up in this one Commandment.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to anyone, so Love satisfies all requirements.

Romans 13: 8-10 (New Living Translation)

Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is;

Time is running out! Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than we first believed.The night is almost gone. The day of salvation will be here soon. So don't live in darkness.

We receive A Servants Attitude by putting on Jesus Christ.

Get rid of your evil deeds, shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves in the Armor of Light, which is right living.

We put on Jesus Christ by following His Ways instead of our own.

We should be descent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior.

Don't participate in wild parties, and in getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy.

But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 13: 11-14 (New Living Translation)

13 Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.

² Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].

³ For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.

⁴ For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

⁵ Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

⁶ For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

⁷ Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

⁸ Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one’s fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

⁹ The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

¹⁰ Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.

¹¹ Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).

¹² The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

¹³ Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.

¹⁴ But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Romans 13 (Amplified Version)

In conclusion, Romans13 teaches us that sometimes we are not good examples of A Servant Attitude after all. However, we serve an awesome God!

Thank you, Jesus Christ for Your forgiveness, grace, mercy, and wisdom.

Thank you for creating in us the desire to learn.Thank you for showing us through love and understanding that we have an Example of A Servant Attitude through Jesus Christ. That we may also be examples of A Servant Attitude, instead of just saying, but also doing, and applying The Word of God. May you help us to set standards, instead of tiring rules. Your burden, Jesus Christ is truly light, May All the Glory and honor be to You, Jesus Christ by how we live. In Jesus Christs Name we pray. Amen

Thank you for reading, Be sure to leave a comment below and/or Share with others if you liked this article. Bless Another Person Today, That's a start to a Servants Attitude.

Team Wiseman