The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 4:12,
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"
The Lord has what might be called a flat organizational structure. Where there be plenty of ecclesiastical self-appointed "authorities" who would claim for themselves to speak for and act in God's behalf, and insinuate themselves in a supposed hierarchical structure within the things of God, James tells us there is but one "Lawgiver and Judge", God himself! We all answer directly to God.
To be certain, we are told in the Scriptures to acknowledge the authorities established by God: our governing authorities, Romans 13:1-5, authority within our families, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, authority in our employment, Ephesians 6:5-9, and the position God has given elders within the church, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.
However there are those who would tell us that if we want to have access to God, if we want to secure the promises of God and enjoy his love and the wonderful grace he lavishes on us, then we have to submit to them, to their church organization and the ecclesiastical authorities within them. They present themselves to be the arbiters of the things of God.
Unfortunately, it is altogether too often that many of us get a little judgmental toward others and assume a position of authority. James would tell us, "You- who are you to judge your neighbor?" We stand or fall before God directly and no one stands between us and the Lord. Paul puts it this way, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Romans 14:4. There Paul says that we should not condemn other believers we disagree with as God himself has accepted him, Romans 14:3. In another place he says, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5.
Here is an amazing thing about the Lord: in his "flat" organizational structure each of us answer directly to him. Something both exciting and potentially frightening is that we all will stand before him. The wonderful thing is that believers will have Jesus Christ at their side. My anxiety over it is relieved as I read the words of Jude: "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25. It will be a time of joy when believers stand before God! A glorious and inexpressible joy!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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