I watched the election returns on Tuesday evening with great interest, curious about who was going to be serving our nation in our various local, state and national leadership roles. With a mix of frustration and relief I saw the many issues or candidates either go the way I had voted...or not. Like I imagine you feel, I have those mixed feelings about what all of this means. Allow me for a few moments to encourage you:
God tells us He is sovereign over these matters. “By chance” (no kidding) I read Psalm 75:6-7 on Wednesday morning following the election and was struck with the following encouraging words:
“For no one on earth - from east or west, or even from the wilderness - can raise a person up.
It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.”
Words like this are designed to give us hope. At a very minimum, God allows some leaders to rise to authority and he allows others to fall. Though we don’t always understand what he is doing, we must take solace that God is providential over all these matters, whether in our own lives or in the lives of others. It’s therefore not right to respond either in prideful arrogance or despondent anger about the outcomes from the election. Whether you think it all turned out grand or you are disgusted with the whole affair, God has allowed it - be at peace.
Whether or not you are the type that really “gets into politics” or not, I also want to encourage you not to put too much hope in government. Again, I watched with interest as supporters of candidates near and far clearly showed their passion and commitment to their candidate, presumably so glad or sad they were being elected...or not. It struck me as odd, but I think it’s because of my own passion for the Lord. As a Christian, I serve a higher authority - the highest authority at that - and the government can only accomplish so much for me. It does not, for example, have the power to change the human heart, and it cannot force me to believe or think anything. That’s the internal world that submits to the Lord...or not...and it’s that super-power zone in which only God and I can operate. No government can ever touch it.
Finally, I challenge you to support and pray for these leaders, whether you agree with them or not. They deeply need the Lord’s wisdom and the right response for the Christ follower is to support them in appropriate actions and in prayer. This past Tuesday night, when the results were rather clear, my wife and I prayed for President-Elect Obama, Governor Gregoire and Congresswoman McMorris-Rogers from the State of Washington (among others), that they would seek the Lord and lead with integrity. We asked God to give them the passion to do right, a heart for the poor and the desire to surround themselves with others of good character. Will you join me in praying for these men and women who serve and carry great weight for us? For Christ...
Lookin’ Up, Pastarod
God tells us He is sovereign over these matters. “By chance” (no kidding) I read Psalm 75:6-7 on Wednesday morning following the election and was struck with the following encouraging words:
“For no one on earth - from east or west, or even from the wilderness - can raise a person up.
It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.”
Words like this are designed to give us hope. At a very minimum, God allows some leaders to rise to authority and he allows others to fall. Though we don’t always understand what he is doing, we must take solace that God is providential over all these matters, whether in our own lives or in the lives of others. It’s therefore not right to respond either in prideful arrogance or despondent anger about the outcomes from the election. Whether you think it all turned out grand or you are disgusted with the whole affair, God has allowed it - be at peace.
Whether or not you are the type that really “gets into politics” or not, I also want to encourage you not to put too much hope in government. Again, I watched with interest as supporters of candidates near and far clearly showed their passion and commitment to their candidate, presumably so glad or sad they were being elected...or not. It struck me as odd, but I think it’s because of my own passion for the Lord. As a Christian, I serve a higher authority - the highest authority at that - and the government can only accomplish so much for me. It does not, for example, have the power to change the human heart, and it cannot force me to believe or think anything. That’s the internal world that submits to the Lord...or not...and it’s that super-power zone in which only God and I can operate. No government can ever touch it.
Finally, I challenge you to support and pray for these leaders, whether you agree with them or not. They deeply need the Lord’s wisdom and the right response for the Christ follower is to support them in appropriate actions and in prayer. This past Tuesday night, when the results were rather clear, my wife and I prayed for President-Elect Obama, Governor Gregoire and Congresswoman McMorris-Rogers from the State of Washington (among others), that they would seek the Lord and lead with integrity. We asked God to give them the passion to do right, a heart for the poor and the desire to surround themselves with others of good character. Will you join me in praying for these men and women who serve and carry great weight for us? For Christ...
Lookin’ Up, Pastarod
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