AN ELECTION WEEK CHALLENGE TO BELIEVERS:
PRAY FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALSPRAY WITH A FRIEND WITH WHOM YOU DISAGREE.
PRAY FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TO SHOW LOVE REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.
If you would like to look at a passage online, go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/
I have talked a lot this week about being gracious winners and losers, election-wise. Friends, this will bring you personal peace, which is good, but it is also for the building of God's Kingdom. Consider the following passages:
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful
and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy2:1-2
The message here is first, that we need to pray for those in authority...period. The second part is that this act will bring us peace.
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:14-15
Do not be afraid! This is one of the great messages of the Bible. Fear not! Do not let the issues that scare the world to frighten you. Then, when others ask you how you maintain your peace and joy...and they will ask you...be prepared to give an answer , because you have an answer; you have THE answer! But we must never make the mistake of beating people up with the Gospel. We are no better than the world, we just have received a gift they have not yet received; and we want them to have it. So always speak with gentleness and respect.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders;
make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone for the hope that you have.
Colossians 4:6-7
The "outsiders' here, are those outside the faith. We really want everyone to be 'insiders' don't we? And yet church folks often, especially in political discussions, are as mean-spirited and condescending as the "outsiders". There is a great song by the Newsboys called "Shine". One line says:
Shine!
Make them wonder what you got;
make them wish that they were not,
on the outside looking bored.
Shine!
Let it shine before all men let´em see good works, and then let ´em glorify the Lord
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=edabf9e4b69008b0718d
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18)
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Questions:
1. Do you see an opportunity to reach someone during this election season?
2. In your experience, do believers typically act well when discussing politics? When discussing faith?
3. If there is a difference in what we say and how we act, does it affect our effectiveness?
"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good,
but that God will make us good because He loves us;
just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright,
but becomes bright because the sun shines on it."
C.S.Lewis
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