For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
Lying to a friend is as devastating as shooting them with flaming arrows. It is not made any better by telling them, “I was only joking.”
Shout with joy to the Lord. We are His people. I will go before Him with thanksgiving and praise and invite you to do likewise.
Paul instructs believers, us, to be subject/obedient to the government and government officials. He gives us some context so as to show us what he means when he tells us to do so. Our obedience to government authorities is a matter of being ready to do good at all times. We should not slander anyone, let alone government authorities (note that there are two important parts that make something slanderous: first, something must be false in order to be slander; second, something is only slanderous if we are saying it our of malice). Over and above not slandering anyone, we should be peaceable, gentle, and considerate in our dealings with others.
One of the points Paul makes here is that we are not saved because we do good. Rather, we do good because we are saved. All of us are have lived in malice and envy. If we no longer do so it is only because of God’s wonderful grace. On the other hand, if we do still live in malice and envy, we must seek God’s grace to leave such a life behind. Further Paul instructs us to avoid those who insist on being argumentative and divisive. This passage is where the idea for “three-strikes” rules comes from. Paul tells us to warn people two times and the third time have nothing more to do with them.
This passage makes clear that Jeremiah prophesied the fall and complete destruction of Babylon when that nation was still the mightiest on earth. Nevertheless, he sent his prophesies to be read among the Jewish Exiles who were already living there. The lesson here is that no matter how mighty a nation, and no matter how well-defended it may be, if it refuses to heed God’s commands it will fall. If its people do not repent and turn to God, it will be as if that nation never was.