Matthew 6:32-34
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 3:5-9
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
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I woke up this morning still reeling from the zaniness of our election process the last couple of days in the USA. This was the most divisive, conflictive time politically in my life apart from perhaps the early 70s in response to the VietNam war and politics of those times. Yet I had a sense of peace and confidence that only comes from the “peace that passes all understanding” with faith in the one and true God. The above scriptures were on my mind as I awoke…so thank you Holy Spirit.
A year ago I would have been all angry, reactionary, and ready to go to war in this new civil conflict we have both domestically and globally. The issues and parties of today have divided our world perhaps more than any other time in modern history. We are divided by race, ethnicity, religions, politics, gender…and yes, even within the Christian religion…on most of the major issues today.
Most of the conflicts are about money; who has it and who doesn’t, and how and where politicos are going to find enough to keep all their promises of “free candy” given out to their supporters. We all know there is no such thing as “free” anything. Everything comes at a cost…our health, educations, good jobs, and good investing. If we don’t create something or work, money only comes to us from someone else’s pocket. The government creates no income, it just redistributes that which the people agree to give towards the cost of governing.
Unfortunately, the downside of the last century of prosperity has been booming consumerism and the masses getting fat and lazy on the coattails of the wealth that has been created. This has brought all-new levels of political and financial corruption as the hearts of men and women have become hardened to almost anything except the accumulation of wealth or the love of “things”. The history of the world is that when men and civilizations have too much success, they become prideful and lazy…forgetting that God is the creator and allowed them to do all of this for a time. Many of us eventually realize that “we can’t take these things with us” when our time is finished on this planet, but it seems apparent most people live to accumulate wealth and live for temporary pleasure.
As these scriptures reveal, God has called Christians to live for a new future kingdom that is not of this world. We are spirit in addition to flesh and blood. Our spirits are eternal. At some point, every spirit or person will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Yet, only those who have lived for building the Kingdom of God will spend eternity in the loving presence of our righteous God. Those who live for this world will have their reward…or failures…in this world only. Only what is done for Christ and in love will last beyond the grave.
Therefore, I take great confidence and trust today in not being worried about the consequences of this election. We live in the world, but not of it. As Jesus said, “what profit is there if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
No matter who is President, in congress, or on the Supreme Court…God has promised to supply all our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. His plan is above our plans…his thoughts high above our thoughts. If we simply trust through faith in Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith, we will not be tremendously affected no matter who has the temporary reign of governments.
Sure, our mortal riches or wealth may be affected. It is even likely we will be persecuted for not having the cares or concerns of this world anymore. We are in the world, but not of it. They kill our bodies, but they cannot affect our souls without our consent. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. We are to be thankful and blessed to share in the tribulations and persecutions of Christians. God has never promised we would not share his suffering or hardships as God’s people. But he has promised to always provide for our NEEDS and not allow us to be pushed beyond our limits…IF we keep our eyes on the prize and faith in his promises.
I hope today you share that peace, faith, and hope in Christ. We actually should rejoice when these terrible things happen in our world, because it simply supports the prophesies and truths as predicted in the Bible.
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Matthew 24:4-14
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
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Thank you God for revealing yourself to a lowly sinner such as me and rescuing me from a meaningless, endless fight in this world that has no real purpose or reward. Pleasure is but for a season, but sacrificial love endures forever. Let us accept his lordship over our lives and not be affected by governments or politics. We know what our battles are against.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts”