Qualifications

May we all join in prayer for tomorrow's election. The only way to restore morals and righteousness in America is to elect godly people to positions of authority. Proverbs 29:2 tells us; “With good men in authority, the people rejoice; but with the wicked in power, they groan” .

The Word of God gives us the basic qualifications of a good

candidate. ‘’Find some capable, godly, honest men who hate

bribes, and… let these men be responsible to serve the 

people with justice at all times” (Exodus 18:21-22).

The six qualifications listed in this passage are:

1. A demonstrated capability in managing business

2. Godliness - spiritual maturity

3. Honesty

4. Integrity

5. Industriousness

6. Justice

May we apply the God-given standards carefully and prayerfully in selecting our candidate.

Amen?

Truth

It isn't what we think, feel, or wish for, that makes it right. The Bible shows us what is truth from God. God's Word says in Titus 2:1, "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." Sound doctrine is what biblical truth is! It’s nice that we don’t have to make things up or figure them out all the time. We just have to have faith in the Word and obey.

A long time ago a man asked Jesus, “What is truth”? Sadly, he didn’t realize the very essence of it was standing right in front of him. Jesus has given us His Spirit and Word. May we consume and live by them.

We don't have to stretch the truth – just live it! Amen?

To Know Him

God offers salvation to everyone, but only few will accept. We, who are His, know that He is always with us. God's Word says in Psalm 4:3, "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him." People in a close relationship know each other’s voice no matter if it’s a child’s or an adult.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, reminds us that even animals (sheep) know the voice of one who cares, protects, and loves them. May we always obey that voice and know He always hears ours.

Amen?

I’m Mad

There are things that happen that should make us mad. Some may think that anger is a sin, but it’s not. The Bible is clear on this subject. God's Word says in Psalm 4:4, "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent." So it’s not the anger but not to let it cause you to sin. Which is difficult. Jesus got mad but He never sinned.

For believers to gain this same type of control we need to take to heart the rest of this verse. Let’s break it down:

When you are in your beds – You can think clearly and rationally about what has happened or to come. Be still, quiet, and calm.

Search your hearts – Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”. Allow His thoughts and ways become yours.

Be silent – Allow God to speak and the Holy Spirit minister to you.

Do not let your temper rule who you are. Be still. Be quiet. Hear and Obey God.

Amen?

Voting Your Faith

Today we will finish looking at being a Christian citizen from the the booklet, "Five duties of a Christian Citizen" by Bill Bright. We will look at the question that everyone seems to be asking; How can you know for whom you should vote?

Know the Candidates’ Views Make a sincere effort to obtain reliable information about all issues and candidates before casting your vote. Non-partisan voter education guides can also inform you of candidates’ views in presidential, congressional, state, and judicial races.

Let God’s Word Be Your Guide in making your decisions. “Godliness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34)., so it is important to prayerfully seek God’s will in all political decisions. Israel invited God’s anger by selecting leaders without consulting Him: “They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval” (Hosea 8:4). If there is no qualified candidate who is spiritually mature, vote for the one whose personal principles and platform most nearly agree with your own Christian position based on the Bible.

Principles Are More Important Than Party Affiliation. To place confidence in unworthy candidates in a miscarriage of Christian stewardship. “Putting confidence in an unreliable man is like chewing with a sore tooth, or trying to run on a broken foot” (Proverbs 25:19). Therefore, vote your Christian convictions over your party loyalty. 

Dedication to Freedom When the signers of the Declaration of Independence affixed their signatures to that historic document, they were well aware that if the colonial cause failed they would be executed as traitors. They were that dedicated to the cause of freedom. Any less dedication on our part will result in a loss of that precious freedom for which they and thousands of other were willing to die. We dare not fail them, ourselves, and far more important, our Lord, to whom this nation was dedicated. Our nation is now faced with its greatest crisis in history. If you ever plan to do anything for Christ and America, please do it now. - Bright

Vote your faith at all levels of government. Amen?

Pray Daily

The first duty of a Christian Citizen is to pray! The following is a quick study on this topic by Bill Bright from "The 5 Duties of a Christian Citizen".

Pray that God will send a great spiritual awakening to America, that many millions of our citizens will receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and that Christians will dedicate themselves to God for spiritual living and active service within the family, the church, and the nation.

God alone holds the solution to our nation’s problems – and we hold the key. The healing of our nation begins with the prayers of the saints. “If My people will humble themselves and pray, and search for Me, and turn from their wicked way, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land” - 2 Chronicles 7:14. We can Pray Without Ceasing in the following ways.

PRAY daily that the Spirit of God will enable you, by His power, to live a godly life and introduce others to Christ as their Savior. This is the first step to good citizenship.

PRAY daily that God will change the hearts of, or remove from positions of public leadership, those officials who are godless, worldly, and disobedient to Him. Remember that godless rulership is contagious. As King Solomon said, “A wicked ruler will have wicked aides on his staff” (Proverbs 29:12).

PRAY daily that men and women of God will be elected to public office at all levels of leadership—local, state, and national—so that righteous rulership is restored. Then our land will be healed and our country will experience the abundant blessings of God. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

PRAY daily that leaders will be filled with godly wisdom and stand from for what is right and true. 1 Timothy 2:2 instructs us to pray, “for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness”.

We may be tempted to criticize our elected officials, but praying for them is far more significant and effective.

Amen?

Citizen Christian

This election has merited a lot of discussion. Problems with leaders and countries have been around for a  long time. It's time we think from our Christian hearts and not our earthly minds.The following is an excerpt from a booklet called Five Duties of a Christian Citizen published by BGEA and Cru.

 Citizenship in a free country is a blessing from God. Our great system of self-government assures every Christian a voice in the affairs of the nation, and enables us to bring a heavenly perspective to the earthly realm. God wants us to do His will in government, just as in the church and in the home. But too often we have disobeyed our Lord. We have ceased to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” as Christ has commanded us. As a result, the moral fiber of America is rotting away – and our priceless freedom is in grave jeopardy. - Bill Bright 1980

British statesman Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” America is one of the last strongholds of freedom on earth – and citizens who are dedicated to God are the only resource for the preservation of our freedoms, including the freedom to serve Him. We can be used by God to set this nation on a new course of righteousness for His glory.

Charles Finney, who helped introduce half a million Americans to Christ, wrote in 1835: “The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them… God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as part of their duty to God… God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.” His words are no less true for us today. Our nation’s course is up to us.

 “A Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them… If Christians should vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease… it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country.” - Mark Twain 1905

Christian lawyer Michael Whitehead put it this way: “If America is to be saved, saved Americans must lead the way.”

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

May we apply Jesus to all aspects in our lives. Amen?