(I encourage you to read the full text. Hold me accountable if you feel it has not been handled well. It is what Scripture means when it says to wrestle with the Bible and mentally struggle with it and inwardly digest it.)
"So all the trees said to the bramble,‘You come and reign over us.’
And the bramble said to the trees,
‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you,
then come and take refuge in my shade" (Judges 9)
"As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come... They went out from us, but they did not belong to us" (1 John 2)
I have posted this late. Why? Well, it is essential to read Scripture carefully and precisely. It is necessary to hear Scripture clearly. Today's reading speaks of leadership under the absolute sovereignty of God. Today's reading speaks of leaders who would govern God's children completely humbled to God's absolute truth.
Today's headlines are full of leaders and would-be leaders "courting" favour in vain attempts to elevate themselves. Where is God in our government? From state visits to summits to caucuses to primaries the game is clear. It is a pathetic grasping for an influence, power and authority wielded apart from God; it is the promotion of the humanistic self above our Loving God. If God is given any place in our 21C political process He is but a stepping stone; a pledge falsely proclaimed and a tool useful for shaping an electable image and forming a winning message. The sad truth is those who do not know Jesus are being elevated and those opposing Christ are gaining our favour. The "church" must repent of this circumstance - we have not taken Jesus into the world so the world does not know Him - in truth we must ask if we are even the Church? People claiming the banner of Christ, who have substantial influence have used their God-given voice (even the pulpit!) in support of anti-Christian platforms. How is this possible? There are not "Gods of Politics" - there is one God above all.
We must repent. "Christian" compromise and expediency are rampant. There is more to confessing Jesus Christ than merely speaking a few words - Christ is confessed in the heart. Hear Jesus' words in Matthew 25, see the image of a bramble elevated and receive the warning of 1 John 2. It is true all have fallen short of the Glory of God but this truth does excuse our overtly running away from God. Let us return to God in whom we proclaim our trust; for He alone is worthy of trust.
The Church is called again to repentance. Repentance is the first small step on the road to restoration and reformation and revival and our return to God. Will we be God's people? God gives us this choice. Is it yes or is it no?
"They will be my people, and I will be their God." (Jeremiah 32)
For today's full-text click here
"Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20)
