Daily Devotional

RULE FOR RIGHTEOUS PURPOSES

December 1

hild of Heaven, do you believe that witchcraft exists in the world today? If you do, you are right. Witchcraft is any form of manipulation or control that one person attempts to exercise through attempts to dominate the life or lives of another person. Are you controlling? That is evil. There is only one person in the universe that has the right of power and authority in the life of human beings, and that person is your Father in Heaven. Now, parents, police, governments and earthly authorities receive their authority from the Lord God. Even they are appointed by your Father in Heaven to rule on the earth. However, the key word here is “domination.” This again is an evil thing. People who have righteous authority exercise it through love which is in Christ Jesus. They derive that authority through having earned it by loving and showing love to the person under that authority. In fact, it is an unusual authority in that the person who is ruling in the Lord will be willing to lay down his life for the ones who are governed. A mother will die for her child out of her love for it. A father will defend his family which he heads by dying for its protection. The word of God says, “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Now, do not practice evil in your authority over other people. Do not exercise this authority for your own selfish purposes. Do not rule for the sake of a spirit of selfish pride or evil manipulation. No man should say to his wife, “you must obey me, or else.” If the man earns his wife’s love, she will want to be cooperative, submissive and lovingly agreeable with her husband’s leadership. Authority with sincere love and concern equals the mind of the Lord Jesus in the life of the believer. If you have been abusive and forceful in the position of leadership given to you by God, repent and ask God to give you a tender heart, caring and loving for your children and those under your authority. This will please your Father in Heaven. Do not despise those in authority over you. It is a gift of God to you to keep you under accountability and discipline. In fact, rejoice and thank God that you will never outgrow the need to submit to the authorities that God sends to govern you in His love. Peace be unto you all children of the King!

Prayer

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Father, I have been my own boss for so long that I have forgotten what it means to respect your authorities in the world today. There are God-appointed pastors, police officers, presidents, judges, fathers, mothers and many others for whom I desire to show respect. Help me Lord. Most of all, I bow my head to the God of Heaven, you Master. I submit my life, my goals, finances and total being to you. Rule, O God, for you alone are worthy of having all knees bow to your holy and righteous authority. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen!