Devotional Thought of the Day:

¹⁴  To Greeks and non-Greeks alike, to the wise and the ignorant, I am under obligation; ¹⁵  that is why I am eager to preach the gospel also to you in Rome. ¹⁶  For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. ¹⁷  For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.” Romans 1:14-17 (NAB)

³  I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; ⁴  that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (TEV) 

You are powerful over Your creatures.   You can do all things in me.  Give me a right mind, give me the wisdom that you promise to all who ask for it.  Covert my heart and let me glorify you to the utmost till my last breath and through all eternity.  I ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen! Amen! Amen!  (1)

There is a civil war going on right now.  It is not one where blood has been spilt;  it is pretty much a social media war.  It is a cyber artillery match as people engage in battle with quick witticisms, with cartoons, with meme’s, with stories.  It is brother and brother, sister against sister, and families are being ripped apart.  Both sides accuse the other of ignorance, and of wanting to deny their rights. Both sides have been barbaric, as they take sides on a political and legislative action.

Several have tried to get my point of view on it, and a few others have presumed to know where I fall on the issue.

Apparently they haven’t seen my FB “about me” section, where I declare my political views as apathetic.  Matter of fact, I would say I am actively and decidedly apathetic.    See Psalm 2 for why, but simply put, it isn’t that important.

Here is why I am apathetic.  There is something more important at stake, for all involved.  Paul talks of it above. Salvation.  That Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried and rose again.  We can also add ascended into heaven and intercedes on our behalf at the right hand of the Father.

He died for sinners.

Now before you go pointing your finger over the barricades, and tell me to look at Indiana, or those trying attacking Indiana, realise this.

All people are sinners.

Every person on both sides of the issue is a sinner.  Matter of fact, many demonstrate it pretty clearly, as they condemn, judge, mock, and issue hate-filled statements against each other. Both sides of the issue are behaving badly, no, not badly, sinfully.

Repentance is needed. Reconciliation, not just to each other, but primarily to God is needed.  For only reconciled to Him can we find what we need to be reconciled to each other.  For we need a grace that is strong enough to be merciful, while at the same time identifying and calling for healing where sin has wreaked havoc. Not sin as in a singular incident, or a particular sin.  Sin is where we have decided we are God, where we choose what we want, where we give up loving Him and loving each other to get it.  It is part of our brokenness, the unnatural natural thing to do as humans.

But we can’t… on our own, fix what is broken.

Jesus can, and indeed, did.  That is the message of the gospel.  He died so that all of OUR sins can and will be forgiven.  So that healing can happen.  So that people won’t see each other as the enemy, as the opposition, but instead love each other and urge each other to draw close to God.

So both sides will now probably attack me, saying, you don’t know how evil they are, they have to change before any of this can happen.

My friends, that change can’t happen in them, and it can’t happen to you, until God transforms you, until He takes that heart of stone out of each of us and replaces it with a heart of flesh, and the Holy Spirit resides in us.

So let God lead you to repentance, don’t shy away… don’t wait for the other side to go first. Don’t wait for your anxieties to be settled.  Instead come find hope, come find mercy, come find His love.

and learn to dwell in His peace.

Both sides may hate me for this.

(1)   From Celtic Daily Prayer, devotion for 4/1 Finian Readings.