Dave’s Monday Blast – October 31, 2016
Last week I stated the obvious…Americans are clearly frustrated with the choices for the next President of our great nation. The vast majority of Americans are clearly dissatisfied with the direction our nation is heading. However, the hope we all need is not found in our candidates or in ourselves…our hope for America is found in this promise, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5- 6). We ALL want our leaders to possess Godly character, but let us not expect more of our leaders than we expect of ourselves. The pursuit of Godly character must begin with us.
Janet Denison shares some very practical advice for Christ-Followers as we engage in the political process within the context of our culture. She refers to this INTENTIONAL process as the “3 P’s of Christian Politics”. Keep these in mind as you relate to others during this contentious season:
- Each Christian must consider his or her PRIORITIES in this political climate. When you leave a conversation, a party, a luncheon, or the office, what will matter most? Is your witness more important to you than your political position? Do you want your candidate to win more than you want Jesus to be glorified? Are you most passionate about Jesus or … ? Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-2;Paul would urge us to make certain that these admonitions apply to our Christian witness.
- Who do you really believe has the most significant POWER in this world? There is no doubt that our leaders make a difference. We should vote for the people we believe are most capable to govern our country in a manner that glorifies and honors God. At the same time, we need to remember that God’s power is supreme and can be trusted. Remember the words of Daniel, “He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding”(Daniel 2:21). God has all the power, but He gives people the power to choose. (We don’t always choose well, do we?) This election, we should use the power God has given us, but understand that ultimately we can trust God to give or remove power according to His will and purpose.
- We need to honestly consider our PURPOSE in politics. I wait for the chance to vote for a person who understands that his or her purpose in politics is to serve. Daniel faced the lions because he knew his only purpose was to faithfully follow God. When his faithfulness landed him in the lion’s den he didn’t try to fight, he tried to stay faithful. When King Darius approached the lion’s den he called to Daniel saying, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel was able to answer, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him”(Daniel 6:20-22). Daniel knew the lions had enormous power to kill but understood that his purpose was to continue to serve God faithfully. His faith and purpose had eternal significance. Ours can too.
As we watch the news, the internet, and ultimately the election results, we wonder how things could have come to this in our country. Our PRIORITIES are not reflected. Our POWER seems to have diminished. And our PURPOSE in the political scheme seems diminished. NONE OF IT IS TRUE! Our light is most visible when the darkness invades. Is our Christian witness our number one priority? Do our words and attitudes indicate our complete trust in the power of God? Is our purpose to serve God and minister to others, even when an arena is filled with lions? God will remove kings and set up kings, and He will give wisdom to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21).
In the meantime my friends, take advantage of this season to stand with Christian PRIORITIES, trust in God’s POWER, and fulfill the PURPOSE God has given us to accomplish. What if God plans to raise up a Daniel in the days ahead? What if you are a Daniel? When King Darius realized that Daniel had survived the lions he gave this message to his ungodly culture: “I make a decree that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God enduring forever, his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on the earth” (Daniel 2: 26-27).
That’s good isn’t it!
