Today's Devotional

 

 December 29, 2008

                                                                                                                             

Subject:  The Other Side Gets A Chance

1 Timothy 2:1-3 - "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." 

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This whole Presidential/authority dynamic is interesting for Christians.  As I talked to a Christian brother who, like me, did not vote for the incoming President, we talked about the responsibility we have to pray for him.  I think that's what makes Christians different.  We realize that when we don't necessarily get what we desire, God is still working His plan.  Let me tell you about a different viewpoint.

Another friend of mine was totally elated at the election results and voted for the incoming President.  I'm not sure about her Christianity, but here is the conversation we had shortly after the election:

I said: "Well we really need to be in prayer for the incoming President.  It's going to be tough for him."

She said: 'Oh yea, I'll pray for "this" one.' 

I said: "You mean you didn't pray for the last one?"

She said: "Oh no I wasn't going to pray for that &*%$(."

I said:  "Well that's why we're having all of these problems.  You were supposed to be praying for him just like you want to pray for the new one."

It was an interesting exchange that illustrates a point about us as believers.  While there are surely Christians who are Democrats, Republicans or members of some other political party, God gives everybody a chance to live out their full Christianity and not just part of it.  It might have been easy for some to pray for the current President because they voted for him.  Well what happens when you have to pray for one that you didn't vote for?  The opposite is also true.

Today, regardless of how you feel about the outgoing President or the incoming President, if you are a believer, your responsibility is the same.  And today if all you have are expletives and words of disdain for either, you are wrong.

Perhaps you've been living with a one-sided view of the scripture above.  However it doesn't say to pray for these people only when you support them and if that's what you've been doing, now the other side gets a chance.                   

Carlen