God Blesses America!
Romans 13:1-5 RSV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, AND THOSE THAT EXIST HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED BY GOD.
Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority?
Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer.
Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
The Word of The Word, Jesus Christ:
Matthew 10:34-39 RSV
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household.
He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 RSV
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the POWER OF GOD.
For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Romans 8:28-39 RSV
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to this?
IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO IS AGAINST US?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?
It is God who justifies; who is to condemn?
Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?
WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But Jesus looked at them and said to them,
Matthew 19:26-30 RSV
“With men this is impossible, but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
But many that are first will be last, and the last first.
Let Freedom Ring
And Peter said to them,
“REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 RSV
