Just trying it on. I didn't stay up late last night, and I only checked CNN on my phone once. There wasn't much question, and even little hope after Pennsylvania fell. Still, I went to bed hopeful.
So this morning I was disappointed, but not surprised.
But the election was yesterday. Today is November 5, 2008 and the world is still turning. I still had to go to work this morning, and Jesus is still on His throne.
Michael Hyatt, the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, posted a good bit on his blog this morning. It's not very long. You can read it here, but the crux of it is this:
I am publicly making four commitments to President-Elect Barack Obama:I can - with one footnote on #3, which I left in his comments section. I will not speak ill of Mr. Obama personally, which I'm fairly sure is what Michael means. I will, however, maintain at a higher standard my commission to speak Truth. God holds His word above His Name; I hold His word above President-Elect Obama's name.Can you make these four commitments?
- I will pray for him and our country.
- I will assume his motives are good, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
- I will not speak ill of him, even if I don’t always agree with him.
- I will cast off the spirit of cynicism, and be a positive force for good.
But for years I've supported President Bush and expected people who don't like him to pay him the respect due as our President. Time to put my money where my mouth is and do the same for the next President.
How about you? Sign your name in the Comments and commit to be a Christian regarding our next President.
And if you're interested, the full text of his acceptance speech from last night is here. Don't read it if you're still bitter.
4 comments:
That was my prayer yesterday morning all the way to work. And I will continue to do that. Thanks Lex.
As a nation, we have chosen a king over us in spite of God's clear cut choice to hold back the floods of judgment (I Sam 8:3-18).
I will pray for and honor Barak Obama as the leader of this nation because that is who this nation (as a whole) has chosen to lead. But ultimately my prayer is not for him to continue to promote evil or an ungodly agenda but to REPENT and be SAVED!
Let's face it, we lost this battle! But maybe God will give us the strategy to win the war!
Point Blank: There will be consequences and degrees of judgment!
As a whole and for the most part, the reality of it all is that the voice of the church is silent! Why, she doesn't even have a voice! She is lethargic! "Sleeping Beauty" is as the captive daughter of Zion who has fallen asleep and can't awaken out of her slumber! Judgment will begin first at the house of God because that's where satan's seat is. We (the church as a whole) have compromised and been in bed with the world for far too long! But there must be a separating of the wheat and tare (as is taking place in light of the recent events that just occurred)! There will be a purifying! The church will arise in power, a bride without spot or wrinkle! She is destined to be before The Lord a pure bride! One who is no longer looking like the bride of Frankenstein, coming down the aisle tripping over her high heels! But one who will come before The One she loves, stunning in beauty, holy in character and righteous in nature! God is looking for a people without mixture so that He can pour out without measure. But we (again as a whole) have failed God! We must repent and ask God for His mercy. If the cry for mercy would have been louder than the cry for change, perhaps we would've seen something different...who knows? I only know in part, but The LORD knows! What I do know is, as a nation, we need God's mercy!
Prov 29:2 says "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
When an ungodly leader is "permitted" by God to rule, that typically means judgment upon a nation. It's so sad to see today, that we (America) as a nation, our conscience is: "When the wicked are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the righteous beareth rule, the people mourn."
So yes, I will pray for President-Elect Barack Obama and his family, and the soul of this nation. Our, response as the body of Christ("a nation within a nation"), to the events that have taken place and what lies ahead will determine what comes forth: judgment or revival.
From: Another watchman on the wall
p.s. if you have time, consider praying about checking out Dutch Sheets response...very balanced and needed: http://www.dutchsheets.org/index.cfm
"Let's face it, we lost this battle! But maybe God will give us the strategy to win the war!"
What war is yet to be won?
And while I agree with many of your convictions, I believe the Church needs to respond with grace and love for the sake of the lost who are watching us as a representation of Christ. We should speak truth, but if we have not love ...
Finally, I don't believe that Mr. Obama is incapable of doing anything good in office. Many (most) of his policies and principles worry me, but I don't believe he's an evil man. I'm praying for humility and the "fear of the Lord" in his heart, and the opening of his eyes to the truth.
Lex, please hear my heart: This war is not won in the flesh...this is not what I am speaking of. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places (and we don't even do this in our own strength)...
Yes, we do respond in love and grace because this is the nature of God and our new nature as born-again believers. However, we can not excuse what has taken place with "greasy grace" and "sloppy agape". We (the church as a whole) have such a squirrly definition of "love" and "grace". We think lala land and "can everyone just get along." But let us never forget, God is just. God in His great mercy will bring His judgments in the earth so that men will know righteousness (Isa 26:9).
And please, let's not excuse it with the blanket "God is Sovereign". He is, however God says Himself "that the heaven, even the heavens, are The Lord's, but the earth He gave to the sons of men." God continues to work through men. So the "God is Sovereign, God has a plan, or this was God's will" banner is one that we should hang up because it can potentially be bad theology if we're stating that there wasn't anything that could have been done. God was Sovereign, and had a plan 35 years and 50 million babies ago.
My heart is grieved! Church, wake up!
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