Tuesday, July 11th, 2017

Leading the headlines most of yesterday and this morning were new allegations of Russian collusion based on a meeting between a Russian lawyer and President Trump’s son, Donald Trump, Jr., last year. Unsurprisingly, Republicans were swift to defend and downplay the story just as much as Democrats were quick to dramatize and agonize over it. For anyone who pays attention to politics, this sort of reaction by both parties to a new story is about as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. Even over seemingly minor stories such as this, it is a race by both political parties, and the news media, to divide the country and draw new battle lines – as if there were not enough already! In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he beckons for them to be united in “mind and thought.” Does this mean he was asking them to all support the same political party? Of course not. To Paul, a political party would have been an immensely trivial thing compared to our calling from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, political parties and Jesus are diametrically opposed by their motives. Political parties seek followers to horde power for themselves. Jesus seeks followers to freely give himself for their own forgiveness. It is for that reason that we must rise above the political games, mud-slinging, and slander to pursue a higher calling in Jesus. It is only when we can give to each other with no ulterior motives that we begin to practice what Jesus preached. Pray today for the ability to approach those different than you with grace and freely give of yourself to them, no strings attached.

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you." -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV