Thought for Today
Joshua 24:15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Psalm 25:12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
Mark 12:17 Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
John 15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
Unless you have somehow lived totally “off the grid” for the past 4+ years, you know that there is a Presidential election next Tuesday. If you haven’t already voted early in person or by mail, vote next Tuesday. Both political parties have been touting this election as a ‘defining’ election for the preservation of democracy. They are correct. However, I believe that every election, for the least powerful local position to the highest elected offices in our nation, is a defining election for the preservation of democracy.
Voting for those who will lead us is one of our most important rights, guaranteed by our Constitution. “A democracy is a form of government in which the people have the authority to choose their governing officials, while a republic is a form of government in which a group of people (the electorate) choose representatives to govern on their behalf., in a democracy, the rule of majority people prevails, whereas in the case of the republic, the rule of law prevails. The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.” (Bing search) I learned many years ago that our nation is a republic; and, I am reminded of that every time I recite the Pledge of Allegiance. "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
One nation, under God. In every election, for the highest or lowest elected office, Christians should remember those words. Christians are called by Jesus to render to the civil authorities those things and duties within the sphere of influence of those civil authorities, all the while maintaining our duties and responsibilities to our Creator God for those things within God’s sphere of influence. To me, Jesus is reminding me that my primary allegiance and duty is to our omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Creator of all Creation.
The word choose is used in the Bible between 40 – 75 times, depending on the translation read. I have a small pewter plaque on my dresser with the words of Joshua 24:15 embossed on it. Every morning, as I go about my preparations for the day, I read those words. Every morning, I am reminded that I have a choice. In everything I think, say or do, I can choose to serve those other gods or to serve the Lord. IN EVERYTHING!
As a Christian, I have the responsibility to vote. Irrespective of what some suggest, I am compelled to “take my faith into the voting booth.” Of course, most of the time Greta and I vote by mail (for convenience) and don’t go into any booths. But, we vote. And we vote based on our faith. Not on a particular political party affiliation. Not on campaign promises. Not on empty rhetoric. We do not vote solely on the recommendations of other leaders we admire. We choose to serve the Lord. And, we remember the words from the Epistle of James, " 2:18 Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” We vote based on what each candidate has done in the past. But, most importantly, we vote.
Stay safe, give to God what is God’s, trust God,
Pastor Ray