(Romans) Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Iron 13

GOVERNMENTS, RULERS, AND THE GREAT SPIRIT

1The Great Spirit is over all powers and authorities that rule the lands. Since he is the one who created them to serve his purposes by providing protection and order for all, then each person should follow the laws that have been set in place.

2Do not rise up against these authorities, for you will be going against what Creator has put in place. This will only bring their laws down on your head.

3Rulers need only be feared by evildoers, not by those who walk in a good way. So do what is good, and the rulers should honor you,

4for they are Creator’s servants to bring good to you. But if you follow evil ways, you will have something to fear, for this will be a reason for them to use their power to punish you. When they punish evil, they are serving Creator’s purpose, for his anger is against all who walk a path of evil.

5So you should follow their laws, not just because of Creator’s anger against evil, but because you know deep inside it is the right thing to do.

6This is also the reason you pay taxes, so that government officials can serve the purpose given to them by the Great Spirit.

7So pay all the different kinds of taxes you owe, and show respect and honor to all.

8Owe no one anything but love. If you follow the trail of the law to its end, you will find love. For the one who loves others has found the law’s true meaning and purpose.

THE LAW AND THE ROAD OF LOVE

9There are many instructions in the law, such as, “Do not be unfaithful in marriage,” “Do not kill a fellow human being,” “Do not take what is not yours,” and “Do not long for what belongs to another.” All of these, and any other instructions there might be, all come together in this one saying, “Love your fellow human beings in the same way you love yourself.”[#13:9 Exodus 20:13-17; #13:9 Leviticus 19:18]

10Love does no harm to another, so loving others fulfills the purpose of the law.

11-12So keep walking the road of love. This is what is needed for the times we live in. The night is almost over. The first rays of the new day are already shining! For the day when Creator will finish setting us free and making us whole is now closer than when we first began walking this road. We must turn away from the path of darkness and put on the war garments of light.

13Let the light of this new day guide you onto a path of honor. We must walk away from wild drinking parties, from sexual impurity and improper desires, and from arguing and jealousy.

14Instead, wrap our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One around you like a blanket, and do not let your broken human desires control you.

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Published by: Intervarsity Press