“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. …If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God: yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. …Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am….” ~Jesus (John 8:51-59)
Honour
Hearing God’s Word
“Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. …I have not a devil; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” ~Jesus (John 8:46-50)
Words for Christian Living 061613
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4 (KJV)
Remember your earthly father today. It is Father’s Day. Even more remember him, honor him every day. Children it begins with being obedient to the instructions, and direction he gives you.
Fathers be sure to be an encouragement and blessing to your children. If you constantly berate, belittle, and criticize them you will drive them away. Nurture them in the love of the LORD. With the same grace you have received be gracious to your children.
Happy Father’s Day.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Christian and the Ordinances of Men
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:13-17 (KJV)
No one likes the word “Submit”, however the Christian is given decree, commandment by the apostle Peter, and Paul (Romans 13:1-5) to submit and be subjected to the “Ordinance of man”. We may not like it, and we will also see that that command is when the king, or governor is doing righteously, for good, and not for evil.
The Christian is free from sins guilt, condemnation, and free to be obedient to the LORD. In the LORD we are not to use our freedom for evil purposes, or as Peter puts it “For a cloke of maliciousness”; or a cover to do evil.
Peter ends the statement with “Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king”. And that is the direction we are to take. We are to love the brethren, and honor the king; however we are to “Fear God”; not the king, or any form of government.
-T.A.
The Fire and Hammer 