Unshakeable In Chaos
Here's the reality of an apprentice to Jesus (not a believer; there's a significant difference)... It doesn't matter who wins the election. It's not about him or her or this or that political party winning. It's not about the nation being divided. It's not about what will happen next. It's not about who are they putting in prison or what headline is being written about so and so. It's not about the state of the government or what shade of purple or red or blue a state is or isn't.
If we are truly people who are following Jesus first and foremost in our life, then nothing that's happening on or around election day or any other day will make us nervous or get us excited in a frantic way or frustrate us or get us depressed about the state of the country or the world. Jesus talked about that and he was clear how we ought to think as he thought. If we are truly his apprentice, then our goal is to think how he thought. He knew we would have fear and sorrow and disappointment and excitement and stress and trials and all sorts of suffering. He knew it. He experienced it. He told us about it and what to do.
Scripture
He said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT
As we are engulfed in the environment of election, and whether the result turns out being favorable or not, our allegiance is to King Jesus. Let's not pray for any specific candidate to win or political party to take office. Let's keep our focus on Jesus shaping who we are and having that impact everyone we encounter. Let's pray that God’s Holy Spirit transforms us by renewing our mind (Romans 12), for our church to become united (John 17) so it impacts the community which we are planted for God’s Kingdom, and for all people around the world, not have known a particular political party or candidate or office holder, but to know God (Matthew 28:16-20). Let’s pray for this daily!
No matter how horrible this government or world is, we know how the story ends on the final pages of God's book. Let's remember he sits on the throne on those final pages. He was sitting on the throne in its initial pages and he has been sitting on the throne in between. He has never left his throne. God has the authority and supremacy. He's doing something about the suffering. He's in process of resolving all of that. His plan involves us. As an apprentice to Jesus, we will do what he did by being with him to understand who he is by studying him in the book he wrote, and then we're going go do what he did. As he did, we will care for people. We will live with moral integrity. We will stand for social justice. We will bear fruit of love by loving people to lead them to Jesus. That is where our mindset and heart ought to be on election Tuesday, any other Tuesday, or any other day.
During one of Jesus's final prayers before he willingly gave himself for us on the cross, he prayed, "this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent— Jesus Christ" (John 17:3 CSB). Is that what’s in our heart to do every day— know God and help others know him? If not, it's time.
Prayer
Father help us know you and make you known. In Jesus name Amen.
Go be and make disciples!
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