About this election….

This applies not only to America but to every nation on earth where the people are involved in selecting their own leaders:

You cannot expect a people to choose Christian, moral leaders when the people themselves are not a Christian, moral people.  Add to that the principle which God Himself has spoken: if a people who have known Him and seen His blessings then turn away from Him, He will – for a time – abandon them to their own devices until they get their fill and turn in repentance.

The problem is not the elected leaders; the problem is the heart of those doing the electing.  Rather than lobbying your friends and neighbours to join your particular political persuasion, pray that individual hearts would be broken and filled with repentance.  Then when you rise from prayer, walk out your door and be the hands and feet of Jesus to all those you come in contact with.  Only through changed hearts will God change a nation.

We Americans – and others – who are aged have a unique experience and responsibility, for we have lived through times of God’s great blessing which younger ones have never known, and which the father of lies tells them through the culture were actually horrible times.  But we have seen the truth with our own eyes, and we are called to make that truth known.

“I will declare that the Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever.”  Go forth, and carry the Light of Christ into the darkness.

God has given you gifts and a calling: will you use them for His glory?

There is no need for any words of mine to be said:

Exodus 31:1-11 (Old Testament reading from the lectionary for today)

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

“And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle—the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base—the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

Matthew 5:13-16 (New Testament reading from the lectionary for today)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”