Sunday Reflections - January 20, 2017

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S INAUGURATION

I awoke early this morning with the National events of the day on my mind.  I took the time to pray for both the outgoing President and the incoming President.  I began to catch the coverage at 4:30 am. I had a thousand thoughts go through my mind as I watched the day unfold, listened to the coverage, tolerated the commentary, and made a variety of requests to my Lord. Here’s a few of my thoughts as I consider this day:

The world needs hope like never before. Our hope is not in the government, and it will never come through a politician. Our Nation needs hope as well. As a society, we’ve done an extremely good job at pushing God out of the National conversation, banning Him from schools by banning the Bible and prayer and seeking to do so in every other possible area. When a Nation distances itself from God, it also pushes away hope. We see this clearly illustrated in the history of Israel.

Israel’s first king was Saul, who turned out to be a disaster. God rejected Saul and chose a new king, “a man after his own heart” (I Sam. 13:14). David was God’s choice. He was the greatest king Israel ever had and set the standard for all future kings. Next came Solomon who led Israel to her greatest splendor. But he also modeled a divided heart.

Solomon’s divided heart made possible a divided kingdom. Israel in the north (10 tribes) lasted about 200 years and had 19 kings from many dynasties. All of these kings “did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Judah in the south (2 tribes) lasted about 350 years and had 20 kings, all descendants of David. Eight of these kings “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

Important Lessons Worth Learning -

Over a period of about 350 years the Southern Kingdom of Judah had 20 different kings, all descendants of David. Only eight of these kings were responsive to God. The rest were evil. The stories of these kings introduces us to the historical reality that God’s people have always been led by leaders who are a strange mixture of good and evil.

1.   The summation of a person’s life in the Scriptures is based not upon professional success, wealth, or power but rather upon moral character.

2.   Though all of these kings were a composite of good and evil, Scripture dares to give a summary statement of their life. Ultimately a person’s life will be deemed either “good” or “evil.” The Bible speaks in terms of either/or .... not both/and.

3.   A person’s moral character is ultimately measured not by some human standard of conduct but rather “in the eyes of the Lord.”

With the election over, and a new president sworn in, the work has really just begun. The years ahead could easily produce anxiety, greater division and frustration. We’ve seen the questions: Will our country ever be united?  Will this political party destroy America?

The results mean good news for some, and bad news for others. It’s good to be involved and even concerned about the political climate of our country. As Christians, this burden for the nation should lead us from angst to prayer.

The Apostle Paul instructed the church to pray for leaders:  

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 Tim. 2:1-4).

In this passage, there is a clear calling for us to pray for kings and all people in high positions. That means we pray for our President and all governing officials regardless of their political ideology or conviction.

Our government will never live up to what it should. Our presidents will never be completely who they should be. But we can rest and trust in God now - there’s an eternal future awaiting us. Jesus is coming back, and nations will not stand in his way. We will not always need to submit to governing authorities led by sinful men and women, who, just like us, are in need of God’s grace. Until the day of Jesus’ return, we continue to pray and rest in God because we know he is ruling, and we have a beautiful inheritance awaiting us.

It ain’t over till Gabriel blows his trumpet.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Heb. 10:36‒39)

I encourage you to take some time to pray today for both of these first families. I especially encourage you to pray for our nations new leader. We all know, he’s going to need it!

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday.

Loving You and Loving Him,

Pastor D

PS – If you have any snow removal equipment - be it a shovel, a snowblower, a tractor or your gloved hands – and would like to help those in our congregation who are shut in or stranded, please contact Jessi at jessisams@deerflat.org or Rick at rickday@deerflat.org