* It is a good thing that an African-American was elected to be president of the United States. I’ve been thinking on that since Tuesday, and the more I think about it, the more amazing I realize it is. It was within the last 50 years that there were significant limitations for people with a different skin color. I know that racism won’t be healed by President-elect Obama simply being in the White House, but maybe some people will be made more aware of their racist tendencies. That would be a good, good thing, because Jesus died to break down walls like that.
* As Christians, pretty much everything is still the same. God is still the same. Our responsibilities are still the same, if not more profound. We are called to be salt and light, and we are called to speak truth into areas where no one is willing to name any absolutes. We are also called to respect those who are put into authority over us, even if we disagree with their policies. It was pointed out to me yesterday that in the New Testament, Peter said to “honor the emperor” when Nero was the emperor of Rome. If early Christians could honor an emperor who killed countless individuals, then we can certainly honor President Obama (who I am obviously not comparing to Nero).
* God speaks to us through His Word. Tuesday night as I crawled into bed, my heart was heavy. I laid awake for a long time thinking about what I mentioned in my post on Tuesday. Before I went to sleep, though, I pulled out my Bible. I started reading through the Psalms last week and was on Psalm 3 on Tuesday. Here’s some of what David says there:
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Iay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. – Psalm 3:3-5
I was so thankful for those verses. It reminded me that I wouldn’t wake up safely in the morning because a certain man was or wasn’t in the White House. God was the one who would take care of me as I slept, and He would sustain me when I woke up the next morning (and He did). The same thing happened last night. I had moved on from sadness over some of the opinions I had heard from Christian to a fair amount of fear of what this presidency will bring. I think some things may be good. But I’m afraid other things may be very evil. Once again, before bed I opened my Bible to Psalms and read Psalm 4:
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. – Psalm 4:6-8
Once again, God not only spoke to my inability to sleep, but also to exactly what I was feeling. He ALONE makes us dwell in safety, not money or education or the hands or policies of any human. Our one comfort is that God has lifted up the light of His face upon us, and we can sleep securely in that knowledge every night.
* Abortion is still just as much a horror today as it was on Monday. Regardless of who sits in the White House, we have to be vigilant about this. I almost started crying as I read these words from Proverbs this morning:
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? – Proverbs 24:10-12
I hope some of these thoughts are encouraging to those of you who are feeling the same way that I am. I have read some really great articles in the past few days but haven’t had a chance to compile them yet.
only help my unbelief 