As I have scrolled through Facebook since the recent election, I am blown away by the arguments and diviseness among so many. Now, I am no political junky and have no desire to attempt to be one. Many times I have to turn to my 15 year old brother for an explanation to most anything in the news. In no way do I desire to write yet another political article arguing my beliefs regarding this election. There is enough of that going around already. You can’t force somebody to change their mind, and at this point in the election it serves no good to try. A decision has been made and we must move forward.
As a believer, no matter how the election ended could ultimately shake me. If it had turned out the opposite way there might have been different questions to ask, but ultimately it does not alter my life. Why? Because as a born again believer in Jesus Christ this world is not my home. As it says in Romans 8, nothing- meant in its most literal sense- separates me from the love of Christ. In verse 37 it even states the powerful victory that
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
As a Christian my life is surrendered to the King of Kings, above both Trump and Hilary. His throne is at the right hand of God, not in an oval office. The one who believes himself to be running against Jesus has already been defeated; the victory belongs to the Lord.
There is a great importance for prayer for our president, our nation, and our world during this time. In this moment, however, I have a very burdened heart for our church- the body of Christ. Not because we are being trampled, although the world would like to think that we are losing the battle, but because now is the time where we rise up. We cannot divide among our selves, we cannot lash out at a sinful world expecting them to live as Christ lived when they are so far from Him, and we cannot drown ourselves in fear and worry when we have a God that walked out of the grave. I do not have all the answers. I beg for wisdom on how to respond in love to opposition that shows the true nature of Christ without bending His rules and compromising on the uncompromisable. The Gospel isn’t tolerant, it offends, and it cannot be changed to fit our molds and makings. When Jesus walked this earth He did not stray to preach the truth. He did not hold back when somebody was offended that His way was not all inclusive of all ways of life. Somehow though, He still led people to the foot of the cross. He brought hope to the hopeless, mending to the broken, and joy to the mourning. That is what I want to take to the world around me. All I have to offer them is Jesus Christ and his redeeming grace, never ending love, and open arms. Romans 8:6 says,
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
In a nation that is waging war for the sake of peace, this is the only place that we will find it. And as a Christian, I posses that inside of me that Christ has charged me with the responsibility to take it to the world.
This is my prayer for the church:
Dear Heavenly Father,
You sit enthroned, may we not forget that. You are what was, what is, and what is to come and nothing and no one can change that. You hold the victory in your hands and we know that what we are experiencing here cannot even begin to compare to what is to come when you return. Father thank you for purchasing my freedom. Thank you for being such a BIG God full of love and grace and forgiveness so that I can wake up every day with joy in my heart and peace in my mind, no matter who is the president. I wouldn’t trade life with you for anything. God, our nation is experiencing so much division. There is a fight for unity, but we know true peace is only found in you. God, your church is among this Earth and you have called us to be united as one body with one ultimate purpose that revolves solely around you. God I pray that our hands, our feet, our legs, our ears, our eyes, and so on that makes up this body of Christ would not turn against itself. Lord, instead we must unite in the VICTORY that has already been won in you. We cannot fall prey to a world that does not serve you, when we were only meant to be here for a short time passing through to what is yet to come. God I pray that we would be ever seeking you and that in turn you would be pouring out wisdom and grace on us. Give us wisdom on how to respond to a broken world that points them back to you. Give us wisdom on showing love that represents you, but not in a sense of being tolerant just to win people over. I pray that we would represent you in a way that people see more than rules, regulations, and do’s, and don’ts because you are so much more. You want to free us form the lesser because you want us to experience the best, and you know that that is only found in you. Your perfect plan for marriage, for life, for so many other things is being thwarted and people are missing out on your great design that is so so good. God you are good, and above all. Strengthen your church, empower us. We are only humans feeling the weight of this world on our shoulders, but we serve a God much bigger that has promised to be our guide and our strength. May your will be done in and through us.
Amen.
Rise up, church. Study up, church. Look up, church.
Love, Em
Follow the following link for a powerful song: Here as in Heaven by Elevation Worship.
Remember + Rejoice 