Topic: Ultimate Authority [Saturday May 6, 2017]
Text: Numbers 15:30-41
Key Verse: “That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God” (Numbers 15:40).
Today’s sing-song is unfettered, unlimited liberty. Individuals including children, want freedom to do whatever they like. Communities yearn for autonomy and nations fight to have independence. The whole system tends towards permissiveness.
The text reveals God’s disdain for wilful disobedience to His commandments. Such people who disobeyed His instituted authority were cut off from among the people. Imagine a family without rules to regulate its relationship or an organisation without policies or a society without laws or a country without constitution. Disorderliness will pervade the whole system, chaos will reign supreme and anarchy will be enthroned.
Though countries have constitutions to guide and regulate their behaviour, God is the Lord over the earth and its inhabitants. He created us and everything in the world. His singular act of creation makes Him the ultimate Lawgiver. “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). God’s laws have certain characteristics. First, they are objective: for the benefit of mankind. Second, they are universal – same laws govern the whole earth. Third, they are impartial – God’s laws have no respect for the person of man. Four, they are practical: makes no impossible demand. Five, they are immutable: His laws are constant. Six, there is unity in God’s law. And seven, the law of God calls us to responsibility. We are to make conscious effort to obey the Lord. God delegated authority to man since He would not live physically among men.
Therefore, He expects us to be subject to constituted authority such as our parents, bosses, leaders, governors and kings. (Romans 13:1) No one can disobey God without suffering grave consequences.
Thought for the day: Those who break God’s laws break away from His grace and mercy, incurring attendant punishment.
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Chronicles 21-24
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
