November 11 – Hypocrites

       Matthew 7:3-5: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye', when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

       Have you ever heard the phrase "Put your money where your mouth is"? How about "Put up, or shut up?" They both mean the same thing and are related to the opening scripture. One better walk the talk, or else the talk is meaningless, hollow, and hypocritical. We certainly expect that follow-through from our elected politicians, and from our friends and co-workers who talk like surrogate-politicians. I believe that if one thinks he has the answer to the nations' woes, then he better be doing something already to alleviate or rectify said woes. For example, if I believe that abortion is morally wrong (and I do), then I should be doing something tangible to help that teenager (directly or indirectly) cope with an unwanted pregnancy, and to possibly help her provide for that baby when she has decided to not abort it. There are lots of other topics that also could be mentioned here, especially ones that we think the government should tackle.

       I personally do not know any illegal aliens. However, I might have opinions about illegal aliens in general. I may think that a wall should be built on the southern border to keep out all non-residents of the United States. I don't live near the border, so I personally don't see the issues related to such topics firsthand. All I know is that I don't want crime and drugs to seep into my country. I may also not like it that my tax dollars are being spent on welfare for such people seeping into my country. All of those things can be both personal and political. The answer for how my government is responding to this situation will be argued as long as the nation lasts. But how am I to react to a needy family down the street who is trying to make ends meet? What does Jesus expect me personally to do? After all, he is my Savior and Master, not the government under which I live.

       I live in a kingdom that is not of this world (John 18:36). My Master told me to pray that his kingdom and will would come to this world (Matthew 6:10). I don't think that Jesus was just telling us to hope for the final day when he would set up an earthly kingdom, where all perceived injustices would be eradicated. No, I believe that Jesus wants his kingdom to come to individuals here and now, living in the mess and muddle, of the daily grind, mending the rot that we have built while living in our own wisdom and selfishness. Sometimes, that "coming of the kingdom" means that I get involved in someone's life by meeting their needs (Matthew 25:37-40).

       So the next time that you get on your high horse about how the government should respond to certain situations, ask yourself, "How am I personally involved with the people who are dealing with, or causing, that situation? Can I make a difference? Can I be a part of the solution?" Let's not expect the government or the president to be our savior. Let's be the hands and feet of the one who really is the Savior.

 

November 1 – National Elections

       Daniel 4:25b - "...Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."

       There is always much hype and many conflicting campaign promises surrounding a national election, whether it be for president, prime minister, senators, representatives, and the like. Most folks are opinionated regarding who will be leading their country and who will have the most authority in crafting legislation. After all, things like financial stability, health, morality, freedoms (or the lack of the aforementioned) may be at stake in the outcome of an election. However, the Bible has some different thoughts regarding our elected representatives. The leading scripture above, outright states that God is in control over the authorities of this earth, as most societies had monarchies for the authorities. However, don't think that humanity could outsmart God, by changing their ruling structure to a body of representatives, who sometimes are elected by millions of people voting them into office. He can even use the corporate voice of a nation in his overarching purposes. Psalm 33:10, 11 state that "Yahweh foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of Yahweh stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Nothing surprises or alarms God when we find that the most ungodly candidate has won the election.

        One has to remember that believers in Jesus are aliens and strangers on this earth (1 Peter 2:11). Our kingdom and citizenship are in another dimension (Philippians 3:20; John 18:36), and we eagerly await our savior (and ultimate leader and ruler) from heaven. Therefore, we should not lose hope whenever "our candidate" is not elected. Psalm 118:8,9 tell us that it is "better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to trust in man....[or] in princes." Jesus knew that political power was not the answer for a better life on earth. He stated in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews." Our fight is not ultimately a political one. Our fight is also "not with flesh and blood, but with....the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [Ephesians 6:12]).

        On the contrary, we are told to pray for "....all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." God wants "all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4). This requires us to put aside our feelings of disgust to purposefully intercede on behalf of wicked, mean, arrogant, self-seeking, rich politicians, who we sometimes can't stand to look at.

        The biggest fight, Father in heaven, is within our own sinful nature, which does not want to die to its petty selfishness. We need to ask for your intervention in our nation's people and leaders, as individuals who need your light.