Embrace the Within no. 128

'And we haue knowen, and beleeued ye loue that God hath in vs. God is loue, and he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is that loue perfect in vs, that we should haue boldnes in the day of iudgement: for as he is, euen so are we in this world. There is no feare in loue, but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath painefulnesse: and he that feareth, is not perfect in loue. We loue him, because he loued vs first. If any man say, I loue God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for how can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene, loue God whom he hath not seene? And this commandement haue we of him, that he that loueth God, should loue his brother also.'

1 John 4:16-21 GNV

Do you find it strange that Paul, who fled authority in Damascus and was jailed several times by authority and executed by the state, would give an endorsement of serving the state?

Do you find it strange that Peter, who was rescued from jail by an angel of God and was executed by the state, would give an endorsement of serving the state?

Do you find it strange that Christ, who could have reigned over the world BUT instead was executed by the state, would give an endorsement of serving the state?

It may be that what we are reading as service is not so much an endorsement of doing what the state wants BUT rather subjecting ourselves to the punishment and judgment of the laws and order of the state. So maybe we are being asked to follow the Way of the Lord even though it will typically end us on the wrong side of earthly systems and have us come up on the wrong side of the system’s punishment apparatus? It may be that Samuel’s warning to Israel about kings and governmental systems like the rest of the world lead to a lot of problems? It may be that getting caught up in service to a system gets in the way of service to God?

The Bible is really thick and there is a lot of scripture in there. And reading it with our own bias is a real issue. BUT I have not come away from my study thinking that I need to punish or kill another image bearer of God. I have never come away from reading His Word thinking I need to go and preach the gospel of the state. I have never come away from reading His Word feeling like the world needs a lot more death or punishment or hate.

I have come away from reading His Word feeling that I need a lot more love and grace and mercy in my life. I have come away from reading His Word seeing that I need to be a lot more like Him than like anyone else. I have come away from reading His Word feeling that I need way more understanding.

Are you still serving two masters today? Do you have that Christian sky cloth and that America sky cloth in equality? Are you praying to that American sky cloth in order to get the freedoms when you know Christ already set you free? Are you worshiping at the altar of state their disciples and practicing their religion a lot more than you worship and talk about God? Do you spend more time judging your neighbor and hating your enemy than you do loving your neighbor and loving your enemy?

I think it’s important to see what we spend our time really talking about and really worshiping. You support what you love. You spend time and money and energy doing what you love. What does your life show that you love? I pray that it is God.

I love you. I forgive you. Grace and Shalom to your home.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH