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In God we Trust…so will we?
Today’s thought and devotion:
It seems that many Christians today are on crusades. Those crusades can be very different – but they are often against our leaders, or those who wish to be our leaders. With heavy hearts and loads of anxiety we worry about our future, and our children’s. It can get to the point where we lose control – and the anxiety causes us to… well lets be honest… sin. Especially in thought and with our words, as we pass along tweets and posts that we think “zing” those we oppose. But what happens if we measure them against scripture. For instance, as Paul talks about living in joy, and being anxious for nothing he writes:
4:4 Always be joyful, then, in the Lord; I repeat, be joyful. 5 Let your good sense be obvious to everybody. The Lord is near. 6 Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition shot through with gratitude, 7 and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, let your minds be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honourable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire—with whatever is good and praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing everything you learnt from me and were told by me and have heard or seen me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NJB)
Those highlighted words are hard to hear – in these days were we see a sharp retort or a really smart comment, and hit “share”before we think about how the post affects us. Does it cause our faith to fail, and if so, our faith in whom? Does engaging in such boost our pride, and rob us of our peace? Does it breed more anxiety over our situation, as we continue to bear witness that is negative and fatalistic. Do our sarcastic and cynical quips stop us from discussing the true issues – and paralyze us from actually engaging in God-pleasing actions to make a difference. What is the impact of our own unrighteousness, as we encourage dishonor, and do we think what it does to that which is truly important that we bear witness to – the mercy of Christ?
I am serious, when I make the claim that our political activisim can easily work to undermine our faith, without consideration to whose “side” we are on. It as much how we battle, and how we speak, that creates brokeness as it is the issue or the person we are backing, or opposing. In the heat of the moment, as our anxiety gets the better of us, we don’t realize it.
So here is the challenge – do we look first to God, do we consider the mercy of Christ and such things as Peter wrote about the Emperor who would order his death, when he wrote – Respect the Emperor… Do we grasp what our actions will do to our witness of God’s presence and the peace it brings? Do we realize what dwelling in all this muck and mire will do to us, how it will result in even more brokenness in our lives?
DO we look to Jesus, and embrace Him, as Psalm 2 says, when it considers the schemes and plans and evils of leaders? Let us find Christ’s joy and peace and the great things Paul thinks of – then let us engage the world. From the position of His strength, trusting in His promises…
and crying our in faith, Lord have mercy!
May we be confident that He will…
Stop being “anti” but be active
Discussion/Devotional thought of the day:
” 12:21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:21 (NLT)
Consider this qutoe:
” The task for a Christian is to drown evil in an abundance of good. It is not a question of negative campaigns, or of being anti anything. On the contrary, we should live positively, full of optimism, with youthfulness, joy and peace. We should be understanding with everybody, with the followers of Christ and with those who abandon him, or do not know him at all. But understanding does not mean holding back, or remaining indifferent, but being active.” Escriva, Josemaria
We live in a world of “anti’s”, or at least people tell us constantly what they are against. The list is usually huge, and sometimes, if they think about it – inconsistent.
Often these “anti” positions are based in creating a strong defense, striking out against what is perceived to attack them, or limit them, or taking away that which they think they need. The problem, as Escriva notes – is that to be so defined by “anti” never defines us positively. Focusing on what we hate, or can’t tolerate, being constantly on the defensive, leaves us at the end of the day empty.
The option, some would maintain, is being passive. That being positive means toleration, that means compromise, that means we abandon our defensive, and open ourselves to being beaten, scorned, betrayed and hurt. Or that we allow others to force their ideas upon us, and we meekly (a word misunderstood) accept their position. If this were true, then the cross is the ultimate form of weakness, but it isn’t. It was a choice. It was a matter of embracing us, that we would be changed.
Such is the activity of overcoming evil with good, and overcoming hatred with love. it’s going the extra mile with those who demand our service, simply because it gives us more time to reflect on them the love of Christ. For that is what matters, and that is what changes people. It is deliberately choosing to serve – not in view of backing down or compromising to keep the peace – but to show the love of Christ.
It’s not easy.. no where near as easy as being “anti” and standing in a place of judgment and condemnation. But instead finding the strength to love, to serve, to overcome.
Lord, even as You have mercy help us to reflect that mercy… and to have the strength to show it.
