Choose wisely...
Based on what I'm seeing on social media right now, I decided to share this post early...
Ballots were cast and the results are in. Hopefully...
How you respond and react, follower of Jesus, is the next big decision you have to make.
Will you choose to word vomit all over social media, with how unhappy, or happy you are with the election? Are you going to block, unfriend, remove people on social media just because of who they voted for? A lot of people from work, even church, are doing it, so that makes it ok, right?
OR...
Will you accept that God allowed this elections to happen, and the results, because it aligns with HIS plans; not ours? Will you continue to smile at every coworker if "your candidate" loses? Will you avoid writing a bad review because you see the "other candidate"'s sign in the window of a business and they only gave mediocre service? If "your candidate" won, will you remain humble and kind? Or will you let pride and arrogance take over and be an insufferable jerk?
Now don't get me wrong, if we need to defend the election process and protect its sanctity, then by all means let's use the proper channels and seek change and reform. But it's always easy to accept- without question- when your team wins... but if they don't? Will you still have integrity if your team loses the superbowl? Or if the mid-court shot JUST MISSES, and your team is down by 1.
Here's the thing about God's plans; not only are they Good, but they're Good ALL THE TIME! Not some of it, ALL OF IT. That means that even the Presidential election of 2024 is also going to be used for good.
If you've voted in at least a few elections, you're old enough to know that sometimes stuff in your life seemed like it was falling apart, but it ended up falling into place. A plan so much better than you could have envisioned. Of course we could do without the heartbreak and suffering, but where's the lesson in that?
In those uncertain times of our lives, we pushed forward knowing a new day was coming. No idea when, but we trusted God; we trusted He was working it all out, and had a more personal understanding that we simply cannot comprehend how or what God is doing.
This election (and all elections to come) is no different. God is using everything for good. We don't know what will happen in these next 4 years. We don't know what will happen in these next 4 minutes. What we do know, is that we have a choice how we respond to these electoral events.
So I ask with sincerity: If you have trusted God with those other things in your life, why is trusting Him to use this election to glorify Him any different?
To clarify, I am only speaking to the Christ followers in this post. If you aren't a believer, read on or don't; it just really doesn't apply to you- yet. (Though that would be nice... for you to be a believer! :) SO yeah, read on!) But if you're a follower of Christ, listen up.
What better way to kick off the day after an intense election than with Romans 12:2?!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What the world is doing right now... yeah it isn't for us. The toxicity on social media, hostility in the workplace, road rage... That's exactly the opposite of how we should be modeling our walks with Jesus. We may feel so strongly about the results we can physically feel ourselves getting sick. We may even have people close to us rubbing it in our faces- directly or indirectly. And that stinks. I'm sure it's aggravating, frustrating, infuriating... I'm sure your blood could boil sometimes. BUT GOD. Thank goodness He saw this coming and gave us this :
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
God knew exactly how this election was going to pan out before names were on the ballots. He knew before you or I had the right to vote. He knew before voting was a thing. Do you see where I'm going with this? You don't have to LIKE the outcome, but you do have to accept it as something He allows. I could go on and on about how we should continue to walk with integrity after ANY election at ANY level. How we should continue to show the love of Jesus even when... or even if... someone hurts our feelings or disagrees with us, or if we don't win or come out on top. But I think I've said enough, and it'd be better to just go straight to the Bible. Here are some verses worth praying over as we move forward.
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Proverbs 14:9 (NIV)
Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord , whose confidence is in him.
Psalms 56:3 (NIV)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalms 146:3 (NIV)
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
It's easy to justify sin; especially when the world is so obsessed with, and immersed in it. But this season, I challenge you to focus on THIS "red, white and blue":
RED- the blood Jesus shed for ALL of us. EVEN the people who voted differently from you. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
WHITE- the Lamb of God. John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
BLUE- associated with the color of yarn or fabric associated with keeping the law; GOD'S law. We should respect the electoral process, but remember Who gave us government in the first place. Mark 12:17- Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. Do not let emotion get in the way of loving your neighbor, even if the yard signs don't match.
