Hail to the Chief (Response in light of the 2012 Elections)

To say that the state of our nation saddens and burdens my heart is an understatement. I understand very well where we, as a nation, may be heading over the next four years. That thought is a scary one, indeed!

However, I am also somewhat appalled at the overwhelming amount of slander and despair I have seen expressed on social networking sites especially by fellow Christ-followers. As proclaimers of the truth, we do have a responsibility to express fact - but in a loving way. As humans, we also have full rights to have strong emotional reactions when things that effect our lives do not turn out as expected. This, however, should not override our trust in a Sovereign God and His plan for us or our nation!

I did my civic duty yesterday, and I pray that many of my brothers and sisters are not overwhelmed by a spirit of regret today as they realize their lack of activism was actually passivism at work. But at the same time, I realize the election is now over, and what's done is done.

In my time with God this morning, I sought out what my response should be in light of the results at the polls. I was encouraged as I was reminded once again that we may try to direct the course of history, but God is the ultimate one who holds the editor's pen to this story.

Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
and
Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
and
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

The fact that President Obama was re-elected did not slip past our Father - this was not an oops. And God is still in control.

Proverbs 21:1 - The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

I was also reminded that my place is not to slander my authorities nor to condemn the results of the election.

Proverbs 24:21-22 - My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Romans 13:1-7 states that we are to be subject to the governing authorities for every authority is established and instituted by God; It is our responsibility to respect and honor those that God have set in authority above us both for the sake of honoring God as well as for the sake of conscience. Just as Jesus tells the Pharisees in Matthew 22, Pay to Cesar what is Cesar's, we are reminded here to, "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Finally, as a believer, I am not supposed to just sit idly by while the world around me gets fed to the dogs. I have a responsibility as a follower of Christ to be proactive in mind, body, and spirit.

Timothy exhorts us: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Do you realize that President Obama, First Lady Michele, Malia, and Sasha were each handcrafted in the image of God? And God's heart for each one of them is that they come to a saving knowledge of God as their personal Savior! He loves them with an everlasting Love! Shouldn't our response be the same?

What if President Obama is just the guy God wants in office right now in order to move believers to their knees for our country. Far be it from me to assume the purposes of our Father, but what if the destitute state of our Nation is what He wants to use to bring the Church back to Himself!

I raise a challenge for you over the next four years...

1 - Trust God's heart and Plan
2 - Choose to honor and submit, choose to avoid foolish talk and slander
3 - Rise to the moment, and fall to your knees!!!

Here are some specific ways you can be praying:
- Pray for President Obama and our other national leaders - for their Salvation
- Pray that they will have hearts of Servant Leaders
- Pray that they will Stand up for truth
- Pray that the Spirit of the Lord would move in our Nation!

May God be glorified in me, in my fellow believers, in our nation!



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