Good Morning!
Let's be reminded of the Great Commandment and the second greatest commandment.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and most important commandment.
The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39.
When today is over and I wake up tomorrow I will love God with all my heart and love my neighbor as I love myself without conditions. I am not going to allow the Devil to misplace my priorities in my relationship with God or anyone.
I am reminded that political opinion does not determine my spirituality. We do not receive eternal life based on political bias. A person's political vote will not determine whether they are a believer or not a believer. That determination is based on one thing only...a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Faith in what He did at Calvary! The external revelation of that Faith is lived out through your position on loving God with all your heart and loving others as yourself.
I have my own opinions politically. Most of my opinions are kept to myself. Sometimes I will express them with my family around the dinner table. But, I am learning that not all of my opinions are welcome to be shared with my family. My children have all developed their own opinions as young adults. But...I love my family. I am proud of my family. They are the best and I am so proud of them. I love the neighborhood where I live. There are signs for almost every politician running for office. I love my neighbors. Tomorrow when I awake I will continue to love my neighbors.
The apostle Paul told us about an issue that weighed heavily on the people around him. We read about it 2:1-5:
"Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—
but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain.
3 But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in,
who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour,
so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you."
The one thing that Paul did NOT want to take place is the hindrance to present the Gospel to everyone. Some had made the issue of circumcision a political issue. He said that it had become an issue because "false brothers came in to secretly spy on the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ, in order to enslave us."
People who were not genuine were attempting to stop the truth of the Gospel in the genuine people in Christ. This issue became an extremely difficult issue for believers during this time. It caused many to stumble in their Faith.
Here's my thought. The Devil is working hard on the job for his purpose...NOT God's! He desires to trip us. He would love to see God's people revolt against each other. He raises hot issues that make people angry with each other. And, we get angry at such issues because we have misplaced our love for God and our love for others. We have lost what is the greatest commandment that God has given to us.
Remember that whatever the results of the elections are...God is still in control. He still loves us. We are still in His hand. God has a plan for your life and it has not changed. Keep doing what He has called you to do and never deviate from it.
I am so glad that Paul did not stop his drive to share the Gospel everywhere God took him.
Being a good citizen is an important issue that God has desired for us. Go vote and leave the results to God. Again, He is in control.
May God Bless You!
Don Betts
DBEA/campus320
DBEAWINNING.COM
TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!