What a rush!

I'm not going to identify the author of today's bulletin. It's not me, but here's a hint - it's someone that's a member here in Tyngsborough. It could be your wife, your husband, your son, your daughter, or anyone else who drives. Does it really matter who wrote it? Think about it...

Something wonderful happened in my life a few months ago that once again proves just how perfect God's will is. I was able to remove a particular sin from my life that had become so ingrained in me that I repeated it many times over each day. Despite my daily walk with God, this sin was something of which I was not ashamed. It was something that I showed openly to the world. Can you imagine? "What was this sin?" you ask. My sin was speeding and until just a few months ago, I would shrug it off by telling myself things like: "It's unsafe to drive the speed limit when everyone else is whizzing past me," and "The cops don't pull me over at this speed, so the real speed limit must be higher," and "How could they possibly expect me to go 30 mph through here?" Sound familiar? I was content in my sin and found plenty of ways to justify it, but none of my excuses could change the fact that I was intentionally sinning.

The apostle Peter, in his first epistle (2:13-15) tells us to follow the laws of the government. In this state, the General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 90: Section 17A, state that the government may regulate the maximum speed on a highway. Every state in the nation has a similar law, and every time I would intentionally disobey this law, I would also intentionally disobey God.

We are to be a light to the world. How can we teach others if we allow such "little" sins to have reign in our life? I don't ever want to be put in a situation again where I'm trying to tell someone about God when they're able to call me on a sin like speeding - it makes us hypocrites and gives Christianity a bad name.

Keeping the speed limit sets a good example and makes others less likely to speed. How many times have you noticed people tailgating you when you follow the speed limit. Often they follow your example whether they like it or not, especially if they get stuck behind you. Nevertheless, you are setting the right example and perhaps even prevent others from sinning.

Keeping the speed limit enables us to drive without looking nervously over our shoulders. How many times do we engage in "little" sins only to feel ashamed and embarrassed when we accidentally let it slip around people who respect and depend upon our faith and strength? When we remove the sin of speeding from our lives, we also remove this sense of guilt as we pass by cops on the road. We no longer feel guilt and immediately hit the brakes. We feel only confidence and peace.

I am happy to report that I am successfully removing the act of speeding from my list of sins. Oddly enough it wasn't my disciplined study of the Bible, or the concern of an elder as they saw me speeding into the church parking lot that finally convinced me of the truth. It was the voice of an inquisitive non-believer that took my foot off of the gas pedal and made me race instead to the feet of our Lord to ask His forgiveness and help.

1 Peter 2:13-15 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Matthew 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, the marveled, and left him, and went their way.

Acts 25:10-11 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Colossians 3:22-25 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.