The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 13:1-4, “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority

except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed

will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of

authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the

sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices

evil.”

The big question in today’s world comes down to this: Who is in authority? But before we can answer, the Apostle Paul says: “…there is no authority except from God.” The word “from” has two avenues: one is that God Himself is the Supreme Authority. The other is that there are authorities (let me call them “deputies”) that derive their authority from God. For example, the Chief of Police has authority; the deputies have authority, too, but their authority derives from the authority of the chief. Any resistance to legally authorized authority is a resistance to God Himself! And that is serious stuff!

How many times have you noticed a police car parked on the roadside, watching the speed of cars going by? My guess is that you instantly look at your speedometer to assess whether you are in violation of the limit. The only “fear” we have of police is when we know we’re in violation of the law. What we often forget is that policemen (Christians and non-Christians alike) are “ministers of God” for the well-being of the citizenry. Do right, and you’ll receive their praise. Do wrong, and you’ll enjoy their wrath.

The big problem we face today is that there is a lack of respect for God and a lack of respect for His ministers who patrol our streets and our dwellings. Since authority cannot simply be obliterated, we often assume that we are the authority. Witness: “I pay taxes that build the roads; I’ll drive as fast as I please! After all, they’re my roads!” Those who think like that (and there are far too many who do!), put themselves and others in jeopardy! All credible law originates with God.

It’s unbelievable what we have observed recently in the looting and burning of legitimate businesses. It is not an outcome of “free speech”; it’s simply raw defiance of authority! That’s what happens when law and order are laid aside. We need to be prayerful about this situation. We also need to be careful that we honor the LORD by honoring the laws under which we live! We need to be prayerful and supportive of our leaders as well, remembering that “God (is) an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.” And His wrath is enormously devastating! Read the Bible and see.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please pray for those who are in authority over us. If they are wrong, God will handle them; if we are wrong, He will

deal accordingly with us. He is “no respector of persons.”

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”