Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself. For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you, because they are God’s servants working for your own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real. They are God’s servants and carry out God’s punishment on those who do evil. For this reason you must obey the authorities—not just because of God’s punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.” (Romans 13:1-5, GNT)
God is working on me again regarding the disrespectful attitudes and actions I am witnessing.
Just look up II Chronicles 7:14 (GNT) “If my people will pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in Heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again.”
Are we allowing freedom of speech to be corrupted, to rule with evil actions to produce chaos in our country? Innocent people and children are being killed. Crime and criminal behavior are tolerated amidst demands for freedom of speech; protests reveal disrespect of authority. The evil displayed goes both directions and does not set a value on human life and love. We are told to train up our children in the way they should go and in their old age they will not depart from this training. (Proverbs 22:6) What I notice is a lack of training in the area of respect. Self-will, speaking indiscriminately and ‘my way or the highway’ attitudes reign and rule. Behaviors like bullying and selfish ego are not the way of Christ.
Self-will, speaking indiscriminately and ‘my way or the highway’ attitudes reign and rule. Behaviors like bullying and selfish ego are not the way of Christ.
If we love our children, we correct and discipline them. Proverbs 29:15 says: “If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them.” Are we allowing stubbornness and foolish behavior to rule and reign in our cities, states, and nation — in our homes, schools and churches?
Help us, Lord. We took prayer out of schools and Godly discipline. We need to pay attention to Proverbs 23:13: “Don’t hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won’t kill them. As a matter of fact, it may save their lives.” A good spanking doesn’t mean injuring, malicious beating, or sadistic punishment, but teaching of truth. “Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave.” (Proverbs 22:15, GNT) Respect and proper behavior must be taught.
Proverbs 28:1-7 states: “An honest person is as brave as a lion… a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders. Someone in authority who oppresses poor people is like driving rain that destroys the crops. If you have no regard for the law; you are on the side of the wicked; but if you obey it you are against them. Young people who obey the law are intelligent.” We must recognize that correction and discipline are of God. Pray for our nation to return to God and reverence and to respect Him and train our youth to respect law and order.
Searching out His words of wisdom has led me to Proverbs. Focus on Proverbs 1:7: “To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.” I cried out to Father God to deliver us from such stupidity in the name of Jesus. Then I asked the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and teach by showing and telling us what to do. Father, show, tell and encourage us, so we can use common sense to deal with family issues, business dealings, social relationships, etiquette and good manners. Proverbs reveals a need for self-control, humility, patience, and respect for the poor and loyalty to friends and family.
Hopefully we will recognize the need to repent, turn away from sins and be a part of the healing of the USA, so our land can be prosperous again. (II Chronicles 7:14) Finally, we close with Proverbs 14:2: “Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.”