Through the Word in 2020 - Special Election Day Edition

As we head into this election day, in the midst of a nation, and a Church tossed by upset, concern, confusion and uncertainty, 3 passages of Scripture come to mind. I pray they are useful for you today. They are God’s Word.

The 1st is a letter God asked Jeremiah to send to the Jewish exiles in Babylon in Jer. 29.

The substance of the letter was to give them comfort and direction in the most uncertain of circumstances. And somewhat like ourselves, they were in exile. We are too, until Christ comes. This world, is not our home.

What did God say? Pursue life as normally as possible in the strange circumstances where you are. And especially: “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Babylon had its own pagan values and its own anti-God ways. But God’s people were there. And we too are to want the best for this nation, and to be praying for it and our lost neighbors in times when it might seem like we are in captivity to a broken, godless system. Not to rail against it, but pray for it. And trust our God to bless us and THEM! In it.

The 2nd passage is Eph. 5:18, and it’s closing admonition to be “filled with the Spirit.” More literally - to be about the business of being filled with the Spirit, always.

Never is the need to live under the Spirit’s influence more evident than in such confusing and odd times as these. Never is the need to live lives fully under the Spirit’s influence as an evidence of who we are in Christ to the world - more pressing.

Hear again what such Spirit fullness is like lived out. That in the midst of all we face and experience today - because Christ in on His throne and we are His - we are to be a people of joy; of peace - peaceful and promoting peace; longsuffering with others - saved and unsaved - irrespective of political party or affiliation; responding to all in kindness - even those who misunderstand or mistreat us; remaining good and upright in all we do; faithful in trusting our Lord; gentle, even toward the rancorous; and self-controlled in the face of chaos.

Be being filled today Christian. Stun the world.

We must be Spirit filled, even on election day. No matter who prevails in the polls. Christ has not ceased to reign.

Lastly, Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

I spoke with a health-care professional this week who had been researching the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. He noted that the second wave was worse than the first. And that the basic run of the outbreak lasted 2 years.

Certainly we live in a day of great advancement in medicine over those days.

We hope and pray for vaccines and other measures to stem our current crisis.

But no matter what, should it end sooner rather than later, or take an unexpected turn for the worse - with all that such a turn might bring - our hope is not in elections, medicines, governmental measures, experts in various fields or economic recovery - it is in the Lord. The one who made the heavens and the earth. The one who sent His Son to die for our sins. The one who has promised never to leave us or forsake us, even to the very end of this age. The one who promises the resurrection.

Keep your eyes fixed on Him Beloved. Walk in that peace that truly defies the understanding of the World as they observe our Spirit filled temperament and attitude. Make them jealous for such peace and security - that they too might seek our Christ.

Pray for the welfare of America.

Be - being filled with the Spirit.

Look to the Lord - and no help on earth in all of the uncertainty of the days ahead.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.