CWW Week 15 - Day 6 - God In The Family

Joshua 24:15

‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’

Devotional.

We continue today to unpack the Resolution commitment with the fifth principle of manhood.

“I WILL train them to honour authority and live responsibly.”

One of the shortest principles is this one but I feel it needs some lengthy understanding in todays world.

It has been said that “good people break bad laws.” But the bible says in several verses that we must obey the government.

Romans 13:1-7 (NKJV):

• Verse 1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
• This passage teaches that all authority comes from God, and therefore, Christians should be subject to governmental authorities.

Titus 3:1 (NKJV):

• “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,”
• Here, Christians are reminded to be obedient to rulers and authorities, and to be prepared for good works in society.

Most of us have no problem being law abiding citizens do we? But what if a law or ordinance required you to go against your God given conscience?

Let’s say for example that your governor or president ordered you to kill your first born child or that you must kill anyone who does not go along with the narrative of the day. Does that not break one of God’s commandments and therefor nullify the directive in the minds of Christians?

There are also many verses in the bible that relate to brave individuals who decided to follow their conscience instead of a ruling edict.

1. Acts 5:29 (NKJV):
   • Verse 29: “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.'”
   • In this passage, Peter and the apostles were commanded by the religious authorities to stop preaching about Jesus. They refused to obey because they were following God’s command to spread the gospel.
2. Daniel 3:18 (NKJV):

1. Verse 18: “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, even though it was a direct command from the king. They chose to obey God rather than the king’s command.
3. Daniel 6:10 (NKJV):

1. Verse 10: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”
2. Daniel continued to pray to God, contrary to King Darius’s decree that no one should petition any god or man for thirty days except him. Daniel’s actions showed obedience to God’s command over human authority.

In these instances, the Bible shows that there are times when disobedience to human authority is justified or required, particularly when following God’s commands, maintaining faithfulness to Him, and upholding moral or ethical principles that align with His will. However, it’s important to note that such disobedience should not be taken lightly and should be done with a clear conscience and an understanding of the consequences, as shown by the examples of Daniel and the apostles in Acts.

How many people died a martyrs death because they chose to stand against authority because their God given conscience demanded it of them?

Good people do break bad laws and God’s principles must always stand over man made laws.

This can be best summed up in todays world from Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV): “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The ten commandments of God must always be the guide to our conscience. Most of the constitutions and founding documents of Christian countries have been built on God’s principles for righteous living. I will always obey my Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution of 1901 as it is the supreme law of the land. Any law under that will only be obeyed if it does not contradict the constitution or God’s law which is supreme over all.

It beholds parents to ensure that their children have full knowledge of their obligations under the hierarchy of the legal statutes of the land and the design principles of God’s laws.

Freedom of choice, one of God’s foundational principles, exists because mandating love does not bring forth the fruit of unconditional love because it is forced and not freely given. It is this freedom that allows us to decide who rules us in a democratic society, but if the unrighteousness outnumber  the righteous then lawlessness can and will prevail. In this situation righteousness in Christ demands that we turn our backs on the edicts of evil and lawlessness or face the consequences of our actions or the lack thereof.

We can best train our children to honour authority and live responsibly by sharing God’s word with them in prayerful Bible reading, and in our actions as a result of living filled with the Holy Spirit.

This must clarify what the Bible says and make it plainer for us to commit to the Resolution on this issue.

“I WILL train them to honour authority and live responsibly.”

Questions.

1. Have you ever disobeyed an unlawful directive?

1. Is your conscience clear and your character prepared to follow God’s direction?

1. Can you see the benefits of having your children live under God’s authority?

Prayer.

Dear Lord, Papa God.

Thank you Papa for allowing the Bible to interpret itself. I pray Lord that the Holy Spirit will guide my pathway as I teach my children to honour authority and live responsibly. Strengthen me O Lord to be the spiritual leader of my home so that I may guide my family in the ways of righteousness with love and compassion. For this is my prayer in your most precious name. Amen.

Graham Hood.