Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. - Proverbs 1:8 –9 (ESV)

The older I get the smarter my parents have become. I'm not sure what class they took or books they had read, but they became geniuses. When I was younger they had no idea what the world was really like. Now, my dad seems to have a realistic and wise outlook of what is going on. The truth of this perspective is not that he has changed, but my ears have become uncorked with age.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. - Romans 13:11 –12 (ESV)

What are you anticipating? What are you looking forward to? This time of year it might be graduation or vacation. That kind of anticipation can give us energy to continue and push through current difficulties. It can build excitement to what is ahead. This perspective is not unknown to scripture.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

It seems like there are smart people and 'smart people'. We live in a town with a BUNCH of very well-educated people. They know answers to things that I didn't even know were questions. They have some many letters behind their name that it looks like an alphabet soup.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8 (ESV)

According to Experian, the average American has $6,354 in credit card debt. The average interest rate is around 17%. So the average minimum monthly payment is around $127. This means it will take you over 7.5 years to pay off that balance if you incur no other debt, and over that timespan you will pay over $5200 in interest on that balance. That's a little overwhelming!

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. - Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)

I feel smarter when I hang out with smart people. Many times, I may have no idea what they are talking about, but it just feels like my IQ goes up a point or two when they are around. Along the way I do pickup a thing or two which helps me learn and grow. Ever had that experience?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. - Romans 13:1 –2 (ESV)

Paul wrote these words to a group of people who lived under a government that at the time was ambivalent and mostly ignorant to Christianity, but in a few short years things would not be nearly as peaceable. Caesar would not only demand loyalty, but worship. Christianity would be outlawed and severely persecuted. Under these circumstances how do we think about these words? Is there a limit to submission? Is there a time or even a duty at times to disobey the authorities? When is that?