Food for Thought

    This was written prior to this past Tuesday’s election. This was done intentionally because this message is not about who won, or lost. Rather, it is a word which applies to us as God’s people no matter who occupies the White House. Here is the message God gave us through Peter:

   “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. Live good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”       I Peter 2:11-16

   There are three lessons which we would hope you would take away from this text.

   First, we want to remind you that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. No matter who won this week’s election Jesus still occupies the throne in the Kingdom of God.

   Second, the responsibility to be the salt and light of the world by doing good still rests on us as citizens of the Kingdom of God. We must devote ourselves to doing good no matter who occupies the White House.

   Finally, we want to remind you that the job God gave us has not been turned over to the rulers of this Nation. God has told us to pray that they will provide an environment where, “We may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:1, 2), but he has not commissioned them to do the work he has given us to do.

In Him,
Your Shepherds

P.S. Here is a link to an article written by Scott Sauls published in Befriend which provides additional insight into this matter.