About 30 years ago I was pulled over by a police officer in a community that I was not part of for driving 48 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. To this day, I still remember my initial confusion as he wrote me a ticket… you see, someone had just passed me, and that car was the one going 48 MPH. To be completely honest, I was probably traveling closer to 40 than 35, but I was not the one going 48.
I tried to explain that to the police officer, asking him if he failed to notice the other vehicle, but my argument was in vain – he wrote me the ticket. I have received a few speeding tickets over the years and I deserved every one… but not that one! I could have just mailed in my fine, but I chose instead to appear in court. And after explaining the situation to the judge? Yep… I still had to pay the ticket. He did wave my court fees.
I know, it would have been so much simpler to just mail in the fine. I lost half a day of work to make that court appearance, and so the money out of my pocket was even more than just the fine. BUT I WAS IN THE RIGHT – and that reality made my attitude righteous and worth it – I guess.
On Thursday, almost 24 hours after it was supposed to happen, Joe Biden was certified by Congress as the 46th President of the United States. The preceding 24 hours was one of the saddest days in our nation’s history. As an American, I am embarrassed that the world watched that happen. I don’t know who you voted for in this election, but could I encourage you – and even admonish you – to avoid the attitude of BUT I WAS IN THE RIGHT in the days that lay ahead of us?
Whether we use that statement in validation because we voted for Joe Biden, or to seek to justify what took place in our nation’s capital on Wednesday because of suspected voting fraud, might I suggest that Christians take a much different approach? Instead of “I was right,” could we seek to be peacemakers instead of agitators? Can we believe that God is bigger than any presidential election?
Listen, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the division in our nation today. Our country is more polarized than it has ever been throughout our history. So Christians – Let’s move forward…IN LOVE. I am not suggesting that we lay aside our convictions. I am not proposing that we hide our head in the sand. I am encouraging us to be Christ-followers – first.
You see, over the last 6 months I have been confused sometimes. Some folks that I thought were Christ-followers, actually seemed instead, to be Trump-followers… or Biden-followers… and Christians ought never to promote that sort of confusion. Christians are Jesus-followers. Christ-followers love people – even their enemies. Christ-followers are people of compassion, mercy, grace, peace and hope. And Christ-followers put His agenda over any political agenda.
So Christian Alliance Family, I am calling us to love and to prayer. Would you consider joining me in the challenge to pray for our nation, our new president and our congressional representatives every day until Easter? 84 days of prayer for our nation… for healing… for a return to godly values… for unity… and for God to be glorified in our midst.
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