FWD: Morning Manna (Dec. 29); BP: Mt. 2:1-12; RBTTY: Rev. 20; Zech. 9-12

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:54:46 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Dec. 29); BP: Mt. 2:1-12; RBTTY: Rev. 20; Zech. 9-12
 
December 29                                                                                      "On Obeying God"  
"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."
                                                                                                                                             Matthew 2:12
      As Peter and the Apostles once said, "We ought to obey God rather then men" (Acts 5:29).
     Anyone who’s ever served in the military knows the importance of respecting and submitting to those in authority over you. Not only is this the "right" thing to do, it’s the "wise" thing to do—for the consequences of not doing so can be quite drastic at times.
 
     Even Jesus Himself said "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s" (Mt. 22:21). Likewise, the Apostle Paul also instructed Timothy and the early church to "intercede for kings and all who are in authority" (I Tim. 2:2), while the writer of Hebrews said "Obey them that have the rule over you—and submit yourselves" (Heb. 13:17a).
 
     Why, then, did the "wise men from the east" disobey Herod by "departing into their own country another way" after he’d told them "bring him word again when they’d found the One born King of the Jews" (v.8)? Simply because they’d been commanded by a Higher Authority to do what they did! Hallelujah!!
 
     While it’s true they were foreign visitors to Judea and under no legal requirement to comply with Herod’s command, the fact remains they could have been arrested and imprisoned for their actions. And, the fact that they were pagan Gentiles when they left home—but now obeying the God of Abraham—tells us their encounter with the Christ-child had definitely had an impact upon them.
 
     Regardless, the truth contained in today’s Manna is one we’d all do well to hear and heed: It’s always the "right" and "wise" thing to do to "obey God rather than men." Does this mean we should rebel and engage in anarchy whenever the government raises our taxes or imposes another oppressive, illogical, red-tape, bureaucratic regulations?
 
     No, it doesn’t mean that at all—for Mary and Joseph "submitted to those in authority over them," even though Mary was pregnant and the journey to Bethlehem was a long, hard one (Lk. 2:1-5).
 
     But, there’ll be times when we must "stand up for right" or, else, we’ll end up "falling for wrong." History is full of those who "counted he cost" of "obeying God rather than men" and flung themselves wholeheartedly into doing God’s will (e.g., Martin Luther, Wilbur Wilberforce, etc.). Their actions cost them dearly; but they knew it’s better "to please God than be a man-pleaser" (Eph. 6:6-7). Amen and amen.
 
     Oh, dear Pilgrim, every day we’re face with decisions—many of them seemingly "small" and "inconsequential"—where we’re tempted to compromise and condone. But, inwardly, we know the "right" thing to do. May the Holy Spirit help us to stand firm on the Word of God, even if no one stands with us—and He will bless.