DAY 336 Read Romans 12 through 14.
Today's reading: In these chapters Paul gives practical advice on the Christian's relationship with other people in daily life, including our duties as citizens.
Memory gem: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17).
Thought for today:
A true Christian will be the best citizen of his country. He will be faithful and peace-loving. He will not cheat on his taxes, for he is commanded by the Lord to "render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor" (Romans 13:7).
He is commanded to "be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
A true Christian is to submit himself "to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (1 Peter 2:13). He is to pray for the rulers of the land and for the peace of the realm (see 1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
As a citizen he should enjoy freedom of speech and of action. He should enjoy the right of appeal against accusation. There should be no condemnation without fair trial. He should have freedom to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience so long as he does not interfere with the rights of others.
Do we have real conviction? Do we know what we believe? Do we have a real trust in God? As Dr. William Temple, archbishop of Canterbury (1942-1944), said: "Freedom of conscience, that is the sacred thing. Not freedom to do what I choose or to fulfill my own purpose, but freedom to do what I ought, and to fulfill God's purpose for me."
Would it not be well for each of us to open up the great Book of God and study again the principles of religious freedom, religious liberty? Should these principles not be taught to our children? Should they not be preached in every pulpit? In this way, and this way alone, we may have a new birth of freedom.
Today's reading: In these chapters Paul gives practical advice on the Christian's relationship with other people in daily life, including our duties as citizens.
Memory gem: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17).
Thought for today:
A true Christian will be the best citizen of his country. He will be faithful and peace-loving. He will not cheat on his taxes, for he is commanded by the Lord to "render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor" (Romans 13:7).
He is commanded to "be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
A true Christian is to submit himself "to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (1 Peter 2:13). He is to pray for the rulers of the land and for the peace of the realm (see 1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
As a citizen he should enjoy freedom of speech and of action. He should enjoy the right of appeal against accusation. There should be no condemnation without fair trial. He should have freedom to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience so long as he does not interfere with the rights of others.
Do we have real conviction? Do we know what we believe? Do we have a real trust in God? As Dr. William Temple, archbishop of Canterbury (1942-1944), said: "Freedom of conscience, that is the sacred thing. Not freedom to do what I choose or to fulfill my own purpose, but freedom to do what I ought, and to fulfill God's purpose for me."
Would it not be well for each of us to open up the great Book of God and study again the principles of religious freedom, religious liberty? Should these principles not be taught to our children? Should they not be preached in every pulpit? In this way, and this way alone, we may have a new birth of freedom.
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