Politicians and Providence

Have you ever griped about a politician?  I know have.  Often.  It’s hard not to when things seem to be going haywire on a regular basis.  Griping and complaining about the things we don’t like or agree with is a healthy part of our American political process, but it shouldn’t end there.  If all we ever do is bicker about it, then we aren’t actually engaging in the process, we are only highlighting the problems… or adding to them.

As responsible citizens we should engage in the solution process by carrying out our civic duty and voting.  Communicating our frustrations and desires to our elected officials through healthy channels is key.  However, as believers we should take it a step further and actually lift our leaders up in prayer on a regular basis.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. – Romans 13:6

God is sovereign.  If a ruler is in power it is for a reason.  We may not agree with their decision making process, and it might be contrary to everything we believe in; but we must continue to hold to the truth that God is sovereign.

Yes, I will probably continue to grumble and complain when I see elected officials do something ridiculous.  I will also do my part by pointing those complaints to politically receptive parties, and I will continue to vote; but I will also lift up those leaders in prayer, even as I disagree with them.

*For a great study on the sovereignty of God check out the Book of Daniel.

Be Encouraged

Encouragement

1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.


2. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.


3. to promote, advance, or foster

This is an important word. Where do we take our encouragement from? Where should we find encouragement? Is our encouragement derived from people, places, possessions, or prosperity? Does our socioeconomic standing or cultural perspective align us to a preconceived sense of self-encouragement? Can a man/woman be their own encouragement?

For Christians the answer to this question is relatively simple, even if it does not always seem so simple to practice. Encouragement comes from two sources.

Primarily, it is God Himself who is our constant source of encouragement.

"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." - Hebrews 6: 18 NIV
Secondly, it is our brothers/sisters in Christ who should be another source of encouragement.

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." - Romans 1:11,12 NIV

Where/How are you being encouraged?

What is God inspiring you to do/be? Are you confident in that?
How is He helping you to achieve that end? Have you sought the approval of your Heavenly Father?
What is He fostering within you? How is He advancing your life according to His will?

Just some things to think on.

T is for Turn

Being reconciled to God along His plan of salvation means that at some point one must make a change.  In other words, you must eventually turn away from the habitual failures of the past to embrace a forgiving future life endowed by the Father.  Unless this turning to God takes place, there is no salvation.  A commonly used word for this act of turning to God is “repent”.

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish – Luke 13:3

To turn to God is to embrace the realization that you need His forgiveness, you recognize it is available; you know it is impossible apart from Him, and you are desiring a new life.  I find it incredibly humbling that something with such far reaching affects can be accomplished with such ease.  One need only do as described in Romans 10:9 to find salvation.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

Turning means to walk away from sin, and selfishness, to embrace Christ alone.

I is for Impossible

Sin separates man from God.  You need only to go back and read the third chapter of Genesis for the sad account of Adam and Eve and their failures in the Garden.  As a result of their actions God forever removes them from his presence.  A condition we all face prior to salvation is our eternal separation from God.

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one” – Romans 3:10

It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.  God is loving and just, his judgment is against sin, and we are all sinners.  How then can a sinful person enter heaven, when God allows no sin?

Mercy triumphs over judgment. – James 2:13

Just as we are inclined to communicate the necessity of forgiveness and it’s availability; it is also of upmost importance that we realize access to God is impossible apart from God’s own means.