But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
As a pastor, I always have people come to me and want to talk about political issues. In fact, somebody just recently came right out and asked me, “Are you a Republican or a Democrat?”
So I answered, “Neither. I’m a Christian.”
As believers in Christ, it’s crucial that you and I distinguish ourselves first and foremost as men and women of God so that we can spread God’s truth to people of all political stripes. That’s because our ultimate citizenship and loyalty is not to any political cause. It’s to our God!
Now yes, you need to be informed and know the issues because the Church is to be salt and light to society. But the message you and I preach is not a political message. Jesus did not preach a political message to Israel. The apostle Paul did not preach a political message to Rome. Our message is much bigger than that!
Christ died for people from all walks of life: Republicans and Democrats… American and non-American. So while it’s good to have biblically-informed political opinions, remember that your devotion to everything else is secondary to your commitment to the Kingdom of God!
YOUR POLITICAL PARTY AND NATIONAL IDENTITY ARE SECONDARY TO YOUR HEAVENLY CALLING. SO WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, REMEMBER THAT LEADERS IN THIS WORLD ARE NOT YOUR HOPE. HEAVEN IS!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”
Luke 24:10-12
It’s hard for those of us who have heard the story of the resurrection of Jesus all of our lives to fully grasp what it felt like to those who had mourned for three days and three nights over His death. The intensity of their loss was still fresh when the women who had gone to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, but had met the angel who told them He was alive, rushed in. Though the news they were bringing was good news indeed, the disciples thought it was too good to be true and refused to believe it. They were not comforted until later when Jesus Himself appeared to them. These disciples missed out on the joy that could have been theirs.
The promises of God are not empty words. They are sure and steadfast, and worthy of our full trust. When our faith fails and we refuse to believe what He says, we miss out on so much. The only sure foundation we have been given is not found in our feelings or in our circumstances but in the Word of God. When we do not believe, we do not harm God, but we do harm ourselves. We lose the power to overcome the world when we lose our faith, and we miss out on our rewards. This is why Hebrews 10:35 admonishes, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Instead we should boldly and confidently act on and claim the promises of Scripture.
Today’s Growth Principle:
When we fail to believe the promises of God, we rob ourselves of both power and joy.
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