Are You Mirroring Our Lord Jesus With Current Politics?
After a busy weekend and missing our time together in the Word, my wife and I opened our scriptures this morning and the words literally leapt off the page at me. “Sometimes” the Word of God is so relevant to our times. (maybe it is “some times” that we are listening?) Today we read Titus three. Before I tell you what was impressed upon us, I feel that for this present age I must add a disclaimer. I apologize if some are offended, but the Word of God is clear here and I would be untrue not present it as He presents it. I would encourage you to stop here and first read Titus Chapter 3. If after reading what I have written, you disagree, I would love to hear where you believe I have erred in my handling of The Word.
This is what I hear God calling me to relay to you today: As I read Titus 3, I was cut to my heart. I thought about all the malicious thoughts I have had for our leaders in the past but even more so I thought about the state of my heart and mouth over the last several months and particularly this election season. I want to publicly repent (because I have publicly sinned) for my thoughts, words and actions that have contradicted plain scripture. If I call myself a Christian, my allegiance, my defense, and my very life are in the hands of The Almighty. To lose confidence and worry or get angry about what might be or who might lead me is by its very nature, lack of faith. When I think of leaders and how they might act or behave my only prayer should be for their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture compels me to “be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” This would prevent me from making fun of them, from reading obvious attempts to slander them, from re-posting coarse jokes about them and attempting to ruin their reputation with my speech. I am saved from all of this and so much more. God did not humble Himself and give up His own reputation to enable me to spend my life slandering and cursing others and then only after death raise me to new life. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another.”
But God saved us! “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy,” ... “so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs” according to the hope of eternal life.” And if heirs to a life that is so devoid of our current struggles and national worries then how can we live in angst and hatred as though our very existence depends on our leaders. Shame on us. What happened to living such good lives in front of the pagans that they see our good works (that includes our words) and glorify our Father in Heaven.
“Insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” The world is watching. Only the Spirit can open their eyes to God Himself, but we can show them His excellence, and this is profitable. For me, all things are possible. I will not lose my salvation because of coarse words or repeating slander, but not all things are profitable. I am commanded to think and speak on the things that are excellent and praiseworthy. To do all that I do and say for the glory of God. I often fall short but when I so clearly see the vast failure of my being, I must turn from it, or I am denying the very God I love and serve.
Therefore, I must devote myself to good works. What good works you ask? “Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” And again, from the beginning, “to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” That includes our submission to the authorities. None of this out of a sense of having some sort of passive aggressive control by being nice, but only out of thanksgiving and obedience to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Not as an action we can put on to show our love for Him, but as the result of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and the true fruit of our repentance as we see the void between the condescending, sacrificial, Love He died for, and our response, with disobedience in hatred and vitriol. Thank God that the Spirit is all powerful and can guide unbelievers to Him despite our sad reflection of His perfection.
I will continue, in love, to discuss financial crises and our God given role to rule over the earth and subdue it. To Love God and my neighbor. However, by God’s grace, for me and my brethren, I pray we will no longer be “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another.”
Tit 2:11-13: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Let us live then, until that Day, for the Glory of God alone.
Rene Milner
This is what I hear God calling me to relay to you today: As I read Titus 3, I was cut to my heart. I thought about all the malicious thoughts I have had for our leaders in the past but even more so I thought about the state of my heart and mouth over the last several months and particularly this election season. I want to publicly repent (because I have publicly sinned) for my thoughts, words and actions that have contradicted plain scripture. If I call myself a Christian, my allegiance, my defense, and my very life are in the hands of The Almighty. To lose confidence and worry or get angry about what might be or who might lead me is by its very nature, lack of faith. When I think of leaders and how they might act or behave my only prayer should be for their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture compels me to “be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” This would prevent me from making fun of them, from reading obvious attempts to slander them, from re-posting coarse jokes about them and attempting to ruin their reputation with my speech. I am saved from all of this and so much more. God did not humble Himself and give up His own reputation to enable me to spend my life slandering and cursing others and then only after death raise me to new life. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another.”
But God saved us! “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy,” ... “so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs” according to the hope of eternal life.” And if heirs to a life that is so devoid of our current struggles and national worries then how can we live in angst and hatred as though our very existence depends on our leaders. Shame on us. What happened to living such good lives in front of the pagans that they see our good works (that includes our words) and glorify our Father in Heaven.
“Insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” The world is watching. Only the Spirit can open their eyes to God Himself, but we can show them His excellence, and this is profitable. For me, all things are possible. I will not lose my salvation because of coarse words or repeating slander, but not all things are profitable. I am commanded to think and speak on the things that are excellent and praiseworthy. To do all that I do and say for the glory of God. I often fall short but when I so clearly see the vast failure of my being, I must turn from it, or I am denying the very God I love and serve.
Therefore, I must devote myself to good works. What good works you ask? “Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” And again, from the beginning, “to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” That includes our submission to the authorities. None of this out of a sense of having some sort of passive aggressive control by being nice, but only out of thanksgiving and obedience to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Not as an action we can put on to show our love for Him, but as the result of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and the true fruit of our repentance as we see the void between the condescending, sacrificial, Love He died for, and our response, with disobedience in hatred and vitriol. Thank God that the Spirit is all powerful and can guide unbelievers to Him despite our sad reflection of His perfection.
I will continue, in love, to discuss financial crises and our God given role to rule over the earth and subdue it. To Love God and my neighbor. However, by God’s grace, for me and my brethren, I pray we will no longer be “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another.”
Tit 2:11-13: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Let us live then, until that Day, for the Glory of God alone.
Rene Milner
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