Romans 13, 365 DAYS OF LOVE #82: BIBLE STUDY, DISHES

PASSAGE: Submission to Authorities, Love, for the Day is Near

MEMORY VERSE: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

NOTES: (v.1-7) we should submit to authorities because:
-"there is no authority except that which God has established" (v.1)
-therefore, when we rebel against authority, we are "rebelling against what God has instituted" (v.2) and will induce "judgement on themselves" (v.2)
-"do what is right, and he will commend you" (v.3)
-we will be free from fear of the one in authority (v.3)
-it is necessary "not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience" (v.5)
-(v.8-14) No debt should be outstanding except the continuous debt to love one another (v.8)
All the commandments are summed up in this: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now that when we first believed" (v.11)
"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (v.12)
"CLOTHE yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (v.14)
I love that Paul used the analogy of clothing, because it reminds us that in addition to an internal relationship with Christ, our faiths should also be like CLOTHING that we wear. Our clothes are visible to everyone we meet and interact with, and it's usually the first thing that people notice. Is my faith like my clothing? Am I clothed in light and with the Lord Jesus Christ?

ACT OF LOVE: IN THE MORNING: I woke up today with a bad stomach ache, a ton of homework left, and in a mood to go back to sleep. After I had gotten up and had brunch with my mom, my mood hadn't changed much. It recently became a habit of mine to wash the dishes (or at least offer to) during lunchtime, since I spend more time at home in the summer. Today, however, washing dishes was the last thing I wanted to do. After debating with myself for a few minutes, I decided that I would still volunteer to do the dishes, since my mom might be tired as well. Eventually, my attitude changed and the day got better :)
IN THE EVENING: Another Bible study with my friends, Crystal and Jackie. We had some reallyy good discussions about the passage, and afterwards we shared prayer requests and prayed for each other over the phone. I loved it! :)