I'm (Trying To Be) Thankful My Side Lost

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

No matter who you voted for yesterday, we can know two things for certain: that at least all the political ads are over (for the next year anyway), and that ultimately God is in control. We may or may not agree with the decisions made about who will lead us for the next four years, but we would do well to remember that, for whatever His reasons, God wants them where they are.

What's always been hard for me personally, is remembering every day to live a life of petition, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving for all people -- including those in authority. That last one is possibly the toughest for me: thanksgiving.

You mean to tell me that God wants me to be thankful, even when I don't agree with the election results?!  Well, actually, yes. Thankful.

Thankful because we know that, whatever it is, God's Will was done. Thankful that God has installed a leader to serve His purposes, and that God's purpose is perfect. 

So I am thankful today. Thankful that God keeps His watchful eye on this tiny planet, and on this tiny nation, and on this tiny person. And that His Will for each is greater than my greatest imaginings.

Jesus is (insert Political Party here)!!

It's been a hard lesson for me to learn that, no matter who is sitting in a Government seat at any given time in this country, that person was ultimately allowed there -- put there, even -- by God Himself (Romans 13:5-7). Republican, Democrat, or other, God is measuring these leaders according to His own plans -- the minutiae of which remain a total and complete mystery.

We're often tempted to say Jesus would have belonged to this political party or that organization. Nonsense. Jesus is neither Republican or Democrat, because He is above our petty politics. Sometimes, He even allows people into power with whom He completely disagrees (the mass murderer Herod comes to mind). Because -- and this is the real lesson I'm learning -- our nation is but a blip on the radar of History. In the eternal Timeline of Christ, and in the grand scale of His plans of Grace and Mercy, the political movements of this world mean so very little.

You and I must vote our consciences today. We must continue to work to the best of our ability to act as we believe God would have us act, even as we understand His plans may not be the same as ours. But even more important, you and I must understand what really matters: and that is Grace.

After dying on the cross and being resurrected; after providing a means for our sins to be separated from us, and for us to once again be called Children of God, Jesus' final instructions to us had nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with people.

"Go into the World and make disciples of all nations."

Love others as He has loved us, and present His love to them. Whatever our external circumstance, whether Christians face judgement and mockery, whether the final voting results lean Left or Right, all is just that: circumstance. It's just a setting in which to do what we must do. It doesn't change for one second our mission on earth to spread the Good News of God's great love and mercy to everyone, everywhere.