The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 13:1-5, “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.
5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience ‘ sake.”

I have a grandson, who is a law-enforcement officer. I was teaching post-graduate students online, when his name appeared on my student roster for the semester class. Accordingly, I was his “governing authority” for the duration of the class. Now that he is a duly constituted law enforcement officer, he is technically the “governing authority” over me. Yet, in both instances, the LORD was and is the “Governing Authority” over each of us. Were I to resist my grandson’s authority, I would be resisting the LORD’s authority as well.

Driving on the freeway within the limits of the law, gives me no reason to fear the sight of a patrol car. Those who oversee the freeways are there for the protection of all the drivers. Yet, we’ve all seen drivers who mistake the freeway for the race track.
It is they who have reason to fear the authorities on patrol. Just behave yourself, Paul writes that those who do what is good, and you will have praise from those authorities. (Their praise is largely that they are not chasing you!)

Have you ever thought of law-enforcement officers as being “ministers of God”? Paul avows that they are. With the avalanche of lawlessness that overwhelmingly encompasses our nation and world today, and with police presence, the very thought of evil without them is breath-taking! Why would anyone with a modicum of good sense rail against the police? For when we are
living in obedience to the laws of the land, we are enabled to live with a good conscience toward both man and God. That allows us to sleep well at night, knowing the all-encompassing authority of God surrounds us with His spiritual and physical safety. Pray for the safety of those who work for our safety. Remember, they are our LORD’s servants, too.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom