"So that you see, my brethren, in addition to every other motive for being good
Christians, patriotism should be one. After we have turned away from the voice
of God; after we have steeled our hearts to the claims of him who died upon
Calvary, the just for the unjust, the he might bring us to God; after we have
besotted our minds to act the fool's part of blindness to our own interest;
there is yet one appeal which may not be lost upon our generosity, one
consideration that should be sufficient; public spirit, the love of our country.
Its welfare is resting on our individual virtue. For as drops of water make up
the ocean, and grains of sand constitute vast continents, so the personal
character of the humblest individual among us adds something, for weal or for
woe, to that national character, by which the land of our love, the government
which has cherished us, will stand or fall."
M. I. Motte , from the Sermon, The Christian Patriot Delivered at the
South Congregational Church,
Boston, July 5, 1840
It is written over one hundred times in the Word that we should not fear anyone or anything except God, for whom we are to have holy fear as our reverence before Him for all who He is and that which He has done. However, life has many burdens and a way of overwhelming us with cares, tests and trials and behind each and every one lies the enemy of our souls ever waiting for our decision as to who and what we will believe; God and His Word or his own fear filled report. Cunning, his darts strike our thoughts with pictures of the worst thing which could happen, but when we read the Word we are told not to dwell upon them, but cast them down as written in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Job was a perfect example of what evil fear can bring and in the third chapter he says:
“25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.”
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us rather than dwell on the evil among us, to trust the Lord who has “overcome the world”. (John 16:33)
What does it mean to trust God and how do we overcome the fear which seems to be lying in wait at every turn? The following is the definition of trust which the Lord gave to me after seeking Him in prayer and these words are often in my thoughts as I read the news headlines, experience a physical symptom personally or if someone in my family is ill, when there is too much month at the end of the money or if my thoughts have me going in the wrong direction.
“Trust is following Me when you do not know where you are going and holding on to nothing else but My hand.”
This is Wisdom from on High when we dwell on the import of the Lord’s explanation and is easy to understand when we think about how many times it is that which we do not know which we fear the most.
So, what does fear have to do with politics? Everything! Fear comes by hearing negative words, and someone does not have to be Albert Einstein to look at and listen to the news media, pundits and politicians to see how an onslaught of divisiveness, strife and ill will is prevalent and would strike fear into the heart of the most courageous soul. What is more discouraging is that it is willful and purposeful and there is no better example than President Barack Obama who has belittled, insulted and personally assaulted anyone who disagrees with his point of view.
However, as Christians, and those who love God and country we must seek a better way and, as in all things, must begin with ourselves and in our own lives. Does this mean we hide our heads in the sand and not know or care what is occurring in our world? No, but it is incumbent upon us who know the Lord to seek and trust Him for our family’s welfare and that of our nation. Jesus told us to “love one another” and also to be “as wise as serpents and harmless as doves”. Speaking for me, both are a challenge and a reminder to pray and read the Bible daily for without doing so it becomes too easy to fall prey to the fear and enter into the strife ridden political world we live in. In this, we have given Satan an open door of attack in our own lives.
My point is this; if we are to succeed in returning our nation to God and its founding principles we are going to have to do it His way. Then, the Lord will be able to move us forward in love to conquer the evil which we face. As the Apostle Paul said so well “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”. After all, isn’t this our heartfelt desire for our “one nation under God”?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7)
R.K. 2013
M. I. Motte , from the Sermon, The Christian Patriot Delivered at the
South Congregational Church,
Boston, July 5, 1840
It is written over one hundred times in the Word that we should not fear anyone or anything except God, for whom we are to have holy fear as our reverence before Him for all who He is and that which He has done. However, life has many burdens and a way of overwhelming us with cares, tests and trials and behind each and every one lies the enemy of our souls ever waiting for our decision as to who and what we will believe; God and His Word or his own fear filled report. Cunning, his darts strike our thoughts with pictures of the worst thing which could happen, but when we read the Word we are told not to dwell upon them, but cast them down as written in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Job was a perfect example of what evil fear can bring and in the third chapter he says:
“25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.”
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us rather than dwell on the evil among us, to trust the Lord who has “overcome the world”. (John 16:33)
What does it mean to trust God and how do we overcome the fear which seems to be lying in wait at every turn? The following is the definition of trust which the Lord gave to me after seeking Him in prayer and these words are often in my thoughts as I read the news headlines, experience a physical symptom personally or if someone in my family is ill, when there is too much month at the end of the money or if my thoughts have me going in the wrong direction.
“Trust is following Me when you do not know where you are going and holding on to nothing else but My hand.”
This is Wisdom from on High when we dwell on the import of the Lord’s explanation and is easy to understand when we think about how many times it is that which we do not know which we fear the most.
So, what does fear have to do with politics? Everything! Fear comes by hearing negative words, and someone does not have to be Albert Einstein to look at and listen to the news media, pundits and politicians to see how an onslaught of divisiveness, strife and ill will is prevalent and would strike fear into the heart of the most courageous soul. What is more discouraging is that it is willful and purposeful and there is no better example than President Barack Obama who has belittled, insulted and personally assaulted anyone who disagrees with his point of view.
However, as Christians, and those who love God and country we must seek a better way and, as in all things, must begin with ourselves and in our own lives. Does this mean we hide our heads in the sand and not know or care what is occurring in our world? No, but it is incumbent upon us who know the Lord to seek and trust Him for our family’s welfare and that of our nation. Jesus told us to “love one another” and also to be “as wise as serpents and harmless as doves”. Speaking for me, both are a challenge and a reminder to pray and read the Bible daily for without doing so it becomes too easy to fall prey to the fear and enter into the strife ridden political world we live in. In this, we have given Satan an open door of attack in our own lives.
My point is this; if we are to succeed in returning our nation to God and its founding principles we are going to have to do it His way. Then, the Lord will be able to move us forward in love to conquer the evil which we face. As the Apostle Paul said so well “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”. After all, isn’t this our heartfelt desire for our “one nation under God”?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7)
R.K. 2013
He who has no fear lacks in humanity, but those who have fear which controls them lack faith in God.
ReplyDeleteWell said librtifirst. Sometimes it's a fine line to walk, but those who stay grounded in the Lord and His Word are able to walk it without stumbling as much. :-)
ReplyDelete