Remember,
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.(Rom 13:1)I know, I know, bad governments have done bad things, but ... who are you going to believe? God, or your eyes?
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:13-15)God's purpose in government is to decrease bad actors and encourage good (Rom 13:1-5). We may not see it and we may not agree with it, but God says it, so we should be subject to and honor our government ... for the Lord's sake.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; He turns it wherever He will. (Prov 21:1)We tend to think in a practical atheist way ... like what's going on down here isn't really in God's control. We're wrong. We may not agree with the "king" -- our leaders -- but we must remember that even our leaders can't choose anything that God won't allow. Trust Him.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Tim 2:1-2)Bottom line ... pray. Look at that list: "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings." Really pray. Pray for the president (whoever he may be). Pray for all in high positions. Pray. And trust God. It really boils down to that. He says it's all in His hand. Trust Him. While America inaugurates a new president, we should inaugurate a new system in our own lives ... trusting God to be God in everything.
2 comments:
Your words this morning strike me as just the reasonable, discerning, instructive, and biblical thoughts we all very much need today--and every day.
I remarked to my husband last evening, “I wonder how many more crazy presidents there will be before we die.” He replied, “hopefully, lots of them”--meaning “hope we don’t die soon” rather than “hope they are all crazy.” I guess I will keep that same hope going forward--and, as you remind us, just pray, pray, pray!
It is liberating to be in the position that God is in control of those that are in control. If I was not in that belief, I'd be like Marshal, upset at all those people that didn't vote the way I thought they should. I can look at all the awful things that 12 of the last 16 years being lead by life hating Democrats, and not be dismayed because I know that it is ultimately for my good, and more importantly for God's glory.
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