Are you tempted to get swept up into all the rhetoric, backbiting, political name-calling and the deep level of immaturity shown us by the media and the politicians of today? I know I am sometimes. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus lived under one of the most corrupt governments of all time and yet He was never distracted or drawn into their politics. He kept His focus by continually listening to His Father and obeying His voice. We could take a lesson or two from our Savior.
God’s word reveals, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority accept that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.” (Romans 13:1&2) Did this writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, use the word “rebelling?”
If God placed each, let’s say, president into office, could our anger, our angst and our temper tantrums over them actually be an act of rebellion against God? When we strongly confront others, call what they write propaganda and get into arguments over constantly changing “facts,” aren’t we essentially telling God that He doesn’t know what He is doing by who He is allowing into political office? Personally, I just cringe over some of the things that I read on social media, but our politicians and our media speak words of defamation as well. I really do not desire to be part of it.
It’s pretty clear from Jesus that the most important commandment is to love God and to love our neighbor first and foremost, but do you realize in that same chapter, Matthew 22, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees with a political question asking is it right to pay taxes to Caesar? Jesus would not be trapped by them or caught up in an unrighteous conversation about the political leader of His day as He replied, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax…whose image is this…and whose inscription?” He then surprised them with these words, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Jesus was clearly revealing there are two kingdoms of which we function in both, this world with its governments and its leaders and, secondly, God’s kingdom. We give to both. As believers, we need to keep in mind that the kingdoms of this world are temporary and, therefore, our priority is the kingdom of God.
In light of this, here’s a question for you. If, when writing on social media, we use intimidation, disrespect of others and dishonoring them and their beliefs or thoughts, are we not engaged in a form of bullying? I have observed writers attempting to shut others down by their “facts,” but, honestly, most times it is simply because someone expresses a different opinion than they do.
A friend of mine was telling me that he was “convicted” to stop writing on social media this way, but still found time to “like” what others wrote which he agreed with. Once again God spoke to him and revealed that to “like” those words was the same as writing them. He ceased in obedience to the voice of God.
Jesus never placed political party or belief over relationship. If your relationships are being affected by differing political belief, then you are falling prey to the evil one and his tactics to cause disunity and division. Allow me to share some wisdom with you from Proverbs chapter 15.
- A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life…
- The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
- A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
- A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word.
So what can we do if we find ourself at odds with someone over politics? We could ask them why they feel the way they do in order to understand their point of view. Then we could ask if they would allow us to share our views. Perhaps we can arrive at the agreeing point of: America is broken and as Christians we are called to uphold the love of Jesus by seeking first His kingdom. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.”
Are you willing to put your hostility, your divisive comments and your agenda aside so that you can place Jesus first? Ask God for wisdom; He gives it liberally. And remember these words of pure wisdom, “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (I Peter 3:15)
Drifting is natural, it happens sometimes without giving it much thought. Add to that our human propensity to get bored with the familiar rather quickly. Once the romance wanes in our relationships, we can be tempted to drift. We attempt to convince ourselves and our life mates that we’re not drifting, but we both know we are.
It’s time to reclaim dinner around our tables. This practice is becoming lost in the midst of family busyness, jobs, school schedules, friends and activates. We desperately need to recover this tradition within our families and here’s why.
I recently needed to make a ministry/training trip to southern Virginia. It was a lovely drive; one in which I have made many, many times before. You see, our marriage began in that area 44 years previously. That now seems like a long time ago.
As a kid I lived in insecurity. I was insecure in school, in relationships, in trying new things and in my family relationships. Insecurity is defined as instability, self-doubt and a lack of self-confidence. That was me. There were plenty of reasons for my insecurity, but at the time it was just life and trying to grow up.
Jesus once approached a woman at a well that was not married, but He told her she had had five husbands in the past. Jesus identified the longing in her heart to be whole and He let her know that another husband would not do that for her. His answer: to draw living water from Him – a spring of eternal life. His answer to this woman’s insecurities, her longing to find relational fulfillment in men and her insatiable desire for wholeness was met in one encounter with the Messiah.
Journalist and author Mignon McLaughlin once said, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
When the city fathers of New York thought about the future growth of their city, they laid out the streets and numbered them from the center outward. In the beginning there were only six streets in their planning maps, so they decided to go crazy and project growth.
How about you; do you sell your vision short? How far can you see? How far do you desire to see and project? God has vision for you and through you. Dream with Him!
I recently read a Reader’s Digest article called, The Nature Cure and was totally intrigued. I will share some of the information from that article below. It seemed to verify what I have believed and incorporated into my life, certainly appreciating that this periodical would help to validate this belief.
Did you know pediatricians are now telling parents with young families to regularly visit parks so the whole family can de-stress and play? When is the last time you went camping, hiking in the mountains, visited gardens, introduced your child to the wonders of a stick, sat around a campfire, watched a sunset, played in a creek, observed butterflies or sat by a lake?
Someone once shared with me these words, “I’ll respect him when he starts respecting me.” Still another said, “When she starts acting respectable, I’ll show her respect.” Really? Since when is respect conditional upon another respecting you?
I love how author Gary Thomas weighs in on this very subject, “As our partners and their weaknesses become more familiar to us, respect often becomes harder to give. But this failure to show respect is more a sign of spiritual immaturity than it is an inevitable pathway of marriage.” He also notes, “When there is mutual respect in marriage, selflessness becomes contagious…. If you want to obsess about them [weaknesses], they’ll grow, but you won’t!”
