Be the light:
In America, today is the inauguration of our new president, elected in the most hotly contested election in our history, in a time of great division and stress. It is said his administration’s 100-day plan will “usher in the most aggressive, socialized agenda” in our history. This comes on top of 10 months of a pandemic with over 400 thousand deaths, civil unrest, and various lockdowns which have led to massive financial strain on everyday people. There are currently 20,000 troops deployed to our nation’s capital, 4 times the number we have in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. Big tech has censored many with opposing views, and cancel culture is raging. It’s an unsettling time. It’s an unprecedented time.
But it’s a time God has chosen to placed us in. Whether we like it or not, you and I were apparently created for such a time as this.
Unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response from the body of Christ. We can’t be like the world, responding to everything out of our human mind and emotions. We are called to be light bearers who spread light: truth, holiness, love, and peace. Not furthering the darkness.
I don’t know who you voted for, I have friends across all political spectrums, but everyone is feeling shaken and disturbed. There may be much wrong out there and much you don’t agree with, but take care to not allow the wrong to take root in your heart. God doesn’t say to never be angry. But He does warn us to not sin in that anger.
If you didn’t vote for Biden, respect the office of the president, even if you don’t respect the person in it. If it was wrong to call President Trump names like orange man or orange stain, it’s equally wrong to call President Biden names. He is your president now if you’re an American. The Bible calls us to pray for our leaders, not just those we like, and it pleases God when we do.
If you voted for Biden, respect those who have a different view than you. You have likely not been happy with things the last four years, so you can understand the emotions your countrymen may now be feeling. Don’t gloat or condemn, and don’t be part of cancel culture. That’s just hateful. How can we point the way to Jesus if we act no differently than those of the world?
But no matter who you voted for, remember that there is much more in common between us than there are differences. Find the common ground. And if you’re a Christian, the most important and most powerful common ground, is Jesus. What’s most important is not who sits in the White House, but that Jesus Christ sits on the throne of heaven and on the throne of our hearts.
So, no matter who you voted for, or how you feel about America’s new president, be a light. As much as it is up to you, live in peace with others. Speak truth, stand for holiness, and live with mercy, grace, humility, and love.
Be blessed, my friends.
Ann
“Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion. And pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts. It is pleasing to our Savior-God to pray for them. He longs for everyone to embrace his life and return to the full knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 TPT
Ann Wilds 