Regardless of personal political affiliations or sensibilities our lives, in a very practical sense, are affected by the politics of the age we are in and the governments we live under (just as were those of New Testament era early church believers like Paul, first century Jews, and church converts/Christians). While it is true that we as the ekklesia – “the church, which His body, the fullness of Him that fills all” – are “sojourners/pilgrims/aliens and strangers” here, “ambassadors for Christ “ and those who “have been transferred to the Kingdom of the Son He loves” and that we are “not of the world”, we are still in the world and for a purpose.
[John 17:14-21 NASB95] – 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil [one.] 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, [are] in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
We are in the world by the word and to give testimony of the Word made manifest in Jesus. As He/Jesus was sent into the world as the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), so are we in the world sent by Jesus. He in fact prayed specifically here that we would not be taken out of the world… but kept from the evil one.. that others would believe our word… that we might be one with the Father and the Son, and we would give testimony to the truth/fact/reality that the Father sent the Sonl!
After an election, if you are like me (Randy) , it is easy to get exercised about outcomes and possible prophetic implications. Since I know Who holds eternity past in one hand and eternity future in the other and is Sovereign God declaring the end of a thing from its beginning, I try not to get overly excited in my reading of the times and situations. In an election as seemingly as momentous as this recent one it is easy to be overly discouraged, or overly encouraged, depending on your political leanings.
At my age (soon 74), and experience , I would fall a bit more on the discouraged and alarmed side of that equation, but for knowing Him and His purpose in Jesus and the church. I will say, without going into great detail, or looking for a fight here, I am concerned for our country, the constitution, and coming potential changes I may not live to see. And, I often wonder if the Hand of God’s favor isn’t being lifted from us as a nation, so I am particularly concerned for my kids and theirs/my grands. But my hope is not in governments, and neither is unreasonable fear and anxiety driven by them. I know Who holds my future and thiers. I am by no means a “Christian Nationalist”. I do not believe God intends to build His Kingdom through the constructs of man. But that does not give me license to be unaware or oblivious to the times, governments/kings and what God may be doing in them, or shirk my responsibility to co-labor with Him as a part of the Body of Christ – one with, and in, Him giving testimony of Him to the world. (asking: Not… “What Would Jesus Do?” NO!, But rather: What are You doing right now in this situation LORD Jesus, and would you have me co-labor with you in it in/at this moment?”)
My point in sharing this is simply to encourage us to be aware and to pray. That awareness and prayer will do much and go far to ensure, no matter what happens or falls apart around us, we find ourselves living out peace/tranquility in Him with godliness and dignity. And, that we keep the gospel of Jesus forward and foremost in our lives, and in our relationships with those in the world, each other, family and friends. Paul wrote to Timothy and the church at Ephesus exhorting them
[1Timothy 2:1-8 NASB95] – 1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [given] at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
Pray for all men
for kings and those in authority
that we might lead tranquil and quiet lives of godliness and dignity.
We want to see these petitions come to fruition BECAUSE we know God desires all men saved and to know the truth in Jesus.
THE TRUTH we know and carry testimony of: there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [given] at the proper time.
And we are to pray in every place…. lifting up holy hands (those cleanses and sanctified unto His purpose)
And, we are to do it without participating in wrath/anger and dissension/division.
That is a tall order! Particularly when you tend to be as exercised as I often am!
It will require divine enablement by the Holy Spirit.
I may host some prayer gatherings in the near future for this purpose.