Thursday, August 24th, 2017

With President Trump’s most recent rally in Phoenix Tuesday night, and the Democratic party response to it, the politics of division have been clearly sowed this week. The mid-term elections of 2018 are starting to creep up, which means that we can expect a steady escalation of partisan talking points, bombastic speeches, and hard lines drawn. Sadly, because it is the current state of our politics, there will also be large-scale judgement and labeling of those with different opinions than your own. Labels like racist, sexist, and bigot will be heaped on people who do not deserve such treatment for the sake of winning an election. Instead of allowing yourself to be swept away by partisan furor, cling to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to speak on your behalf. God did not create us to be interchangeable, he created us to be compatible. We were created with free will, and each of us beautifully and fearfully made in God’s image, with unique abilities, perspectives, and challenges. Peter calls for Christians to be “like-minded,” but this does not mean agreeing on all things earthly – it means agreeing on all things heavenly. Through the strength and love of Jesus Christ, we are able to surpass the superficial political labels the world attaches to us if we can agree that Jesus died for our sins and our mission on earth is to serve and glorify Him. Pray today for open eyes, a forgiving soul, and like-mindedness to fulfill God’s plan for our world.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” – 1 Peter 3:8