Why Authority

Psalm 140:6-13

“I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”  Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.  Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed. Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.  May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.   May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.  I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.  Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.”

I have no understanding of why a very wealthy and by the world standards very successful businessman would put up with the vastness of hate and evil that has been directed at him and his family, like President Trump.  My only conclusion is it’s his calling from our Lord.  I do not have any understanding of the Presidents spiritual condition, but I do understand what I as a follower of Christ must do, and that is to stand against evil and hate and obey the command of my Lord.

As one who is a “follower of Christ” have you taken to heart what God has instructed us to do in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”   Often, in our business we forget to put on our battle equipment, and what is our main weapon “Prayer,” not name calling but humbling ourselves before  the Father and asking the LORD to hear our cry for victory over those who are disciples of the evil one, and to pray for all who are over us in authority.

My wife has been my teacher for years in this area of my life, mercy and grace, she has a spirit of quietness and grace that I often do not apply to my life.  When I’m asking God to do as the Psalmist is doing in verses 9-11, Jan often reminds me of the grace God has shown me, and that our Father desires for all people to find life in His Son.

For years I did not give much thought to the poor and needy until I came under the influence of two pastors that taught me from Scripture that it was the heart of our God to do so.  I am so thankful for Pastor Larry York and Pastor Ray Still for having the 

heart of God and teaching us to also be the hands and feet to the under resourced people in our community.  Yes, we can praise the great and wonderful name of our God and look forward to living in His presence.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice