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Last week we reflected upon the honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, as well as our concern for those affected in the devastating fires in Southern California. Each of these alone are a lot to take in and call for us to live in a state of appreciation and compassion. It's always a good reminder that "every person is created in the image of God" (Genesis 1:26), & our response to the "least of these" (who are those in need from Matthew 25:37-39) are a "holy tension" we live in every day as followers Jesus! So this week we bring two more events up to the "front burner". One takes place Monday the 20th & the other does formally on Wednesday the 22nd, so let's start with Monday! The Transfer of POWER and the Transfer of PRAYER I'm not sure I recall ever using the phrase "transfer of power" prior to four years ago. But we have been reminded of its significant quite often since January 6, 2021. It's an easy day for me to remember since January 6 was my Mom's birthday & that actual day in 2021 would've been her 100th birthday if she would've been with us that long. That day will be "remembered & dismembered" through the ages. It will be overplayed or downplayed, dismissed by some while demonized by others, excused or abused, & we could go on a while longer, but I think we all get the picture far too well. Nonetheless, another "transfer of power" will take place again in America & this time, "the shoe will be on the other foot". And once again, believers are called upon to do what we are to do EVERY election of EVERY president and at EVERY pivotal point in political history. And that is to respectfully make the transfer, realizing "God doesn't pick sides, He "providentially governs, raising up or removing leaders as He sees fit and doesn't check with us first". I love the story of Joshua prior to the Battle of Jericho, as he goes up and meets the Commander of the Lord's Army, who had drawn his sword in chapter 5. It appears in verse 13, that Joshua was one of the first people to ever ask, "friend or foe"? And as he does, the Commander "badges him" verbally & with the sword of the Lord, which was enough ID for Joshua as he hears the answer to the question being, "neither"! You see many people wait to see which side God picks and the answer is always "neither". He doesn't join OUR side, we JOIN His! Of course, historically, the difficult choice remains for believers to figure out how to transcend politics. And the only way to, is to remain committed biblically to the "comprehensive essence" of the Word of God. Comprehensive, in that we can't pick and choose a verse or issue without being aware of God's overall INTENT in each passage. We're to stand on HIS "eternal principles", rather than the "cultural preferences" that surround us. So what is our primary responsibility as believers in this transfer of power? The same as it's always been. We are to RESPECT, as we are commanded to in Romans 13. And we are to PRAY, as were told to in 1st Timothy 2. Both can be difficult if you think whoever's in the office is a yahoo, but that makes no difference. Our responsibility is to respect our government & pray for those leadership entrusting them to God, regardless. Because God is able to work "THROUGH or AROUND" any leader that's in power! And therein lies the challenge. Government has been God's idea from the beginning. We have an obligation to be involved in the SELECTION process based on our CONVICTIONS. But we have an even greater responsibility to respect & prayerfully entrust them and their leadership and PLACE them in the hand of God, which is where they truly are. They are in His hands, as we all are. So there'll be a new sheriff in town starting Monday. But my question is, will the necessary "transfer of POWER" bring about the equally necessary "transfer of PRAYER" in the lives of the followers of Jesus? It doesn't matter who is elected in regards to the fact that we are "one day closer to the day of the Lord's return", regardless. So may our prayers be for God to touch the heart of our country's leaders, not just so we can thrive as a nation, but so that "His Kingdom might come & His will be done on earth as it is in heaven"! Now our 2nd topic, as I mentioned is celebrated Wednesday, which is the formal day of the "SANCTITY of LIFE". President Reagan, years ago brought that issue & conviction to our country's attention while he was in office. It was a little over a decade after "Roe vs. Wade" that he sanctioned that day, which would lead to what we know today as the "Pro Life Movement". With Dr. Kevorkian coming to the forefront back in that era, the issue became not only, when does life begin, but how long should it last, as the term, "euthanasia" came to the forefront of our culture's language. But rather than listen to my reflections on how precious God's gift of life is, let's listen to David's, as he states the reality of God's presence in the forming of human life. PSALM 139:13-16 "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (NLT) Now, if you grew up on the King James Version or the New International Version, both used two words that have been extremely memorable with this passage. We are "FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY" made by the God of all creation. If we believe that, then it should shape our view the time when human life begins, which certainly appears to be at conception. I believe as we help one another, "finish well together", God is calling us to STAND on His Word, and at the same time compassionately REACH OUT to those confused by our culture's distortion. Many people of all ages have been wounded by the harsh realities and painful consequences that follow decisions in which our wisdom didn't prevail. Respecting the sanctity of life not only PROTECTS the voice of the unborn, but also ELEVATES every person's worth as we are made in the image of God. And that intrinsic value remains until our earthly life is over. It's not just "from the cradle to the grave". It's BEFORE the cradle & BEYOND the grave! We love people BECAUSE we all are made in His image and will give an account for how we REPRESENT Him to the world in the days we have been given! So this week is a pretty big week, isn't it! Who knows what will happen? But in light of what's on our calendar, perhaps our week should be filled with "respectful prayers" for our nation's leaders, and a "respectful reverence" for human life of any & every age (prenatal to post mortem). Part of "finishing well" is finishing "what Jesus came to do". 1 John 3:8 makes a very pointed statement of the purpose of Jesus coming to earth. This was from his close friend John, who at the end of his gospel, said, "Jesus said much more than was recorded, but if all of His sayings were collected, there wouldn't be enough books to contain them!" Here's one of those things he said as he personally witnessed the "Mission of the Messiah". "But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8b NLT). Some things within our life and country need to be established, some renewed, and some destroyed. May we Believe deeply… Stand firmly… Pray constantly… Love consistently… Defend faithfully, & Eliminate ruthlessly... the appropriate things in each category that bring honor & glory to God. And may we "RE-ENLIST" for another tour of duty, this side of heaven as God's "passionate people in the providential country" in which we live! Love you guys… george
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