I'm Thankful

TITLE: I’m Thankful
DATE: November 6, 2018
TEXT:1 Timothy 2: 1-2 (ESV) -  I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
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One of the things which I have repeatedly heard over the last few weeks is, “I will be so glad when November 6th comes.  I am so tired of listening to those political ads on television.”

Well, today is Election Day in the good, old US of A. Today all the ads come to a stop… at least until the candidates begin campaigning for the 2020 elections… which will be sometime tomorrow.

And although the Daily Devos have tried to be non-political, honesty compels me to share that I do have a very strong opinion about the political ads we’ve all endured. That opinion is:  

I’m, going to miss them. It’s true. I am.

And if you want to know “why”, I can most easily explain it this way:  Every once-in-a-while I hear someone complain about babies crying in church. Now it’s true, crying babies can be a nuisance, but I’ve been in churches where no children’s crying was ever heard. No babies cried because there were no babies to cry. And that was sad. All things considered, I’ll keep the little cry-ers.  

Similarly, I know of countries which have no televised political ads. North Korea has no television ads pushing a particular candidate. With only one party and one candidate it’s simply not necessary.

Which takes me to the second reason I’m going to miss those campaign ads.

They’re going to be missed because, with their differing viewpoints, they are a reminder that the Lord has given us freedom to help shape our nation’s future and the kind of country our children will inherit.  The fact that a large percentage of people do not vote is a sadness…but it does increase the power of the ballots cast by those who do.
Yes, I’m going to miss those political ads.

I’m going to miss them because, this year, they have been my call to prayer. That’s right. Every time I saw a political ad on TV I said a prayer for the person who was paying for the ad and for his opponent. I asked the Lord to let the best person win; and to guide that individual during his time of service.

I think that’s what the Holy Spirit was saying when He inspired Paul to write about Jesus’ followers praying for those in authority. He knew that Christians could make an impression, and stand out from the rest of the world, if they offered up prayers rather than constant criticism; if they substituted supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings in place of worldly trash talking.

Saying prayers for our leaders. It certainly can’t hurt and, quite likely, it will help them. I know it helped me. You see, with prayers in my heart and on my tongue, there was no longer room for all the constant criticism which had become so common when I used to listen to those ads.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are times when Christians are given the opportunity to show their faith in action. The casting of ballots is such an opportunity; the saying of prayers is another. Grant that I may honor the Savior by being a model citizen and Christian. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago  confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html