We just finished up our second online Bible study this week. Thanks to the ladies who were able to participate in the study over the Being Transparent book. It was a wonderful growing time and experience with you and it’s hard to believe seven weeks went by that quickly.

Most of you who know me personally know that I like to think about things in many different ways. I like to process things and make lists of the pros and cons. Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m not shy about standing up for something I believe in strongly.

The US election has really given me a lot to think about these past few months. I’ve pondered where we are as a country, where I fall into that category, and where the church holds responsibility. At each debate, I would sit and listen before I was almost instantaneously saddened by the comments made. What were we to do as a country? There seemed to be so much hatred on both sides; sometimes hatred that was based upon false pretenses.

Sides.

Now, that seemed divisive. No wonder we are where we are. We’ve already divided ourselves before we’ve ever started and we’ve taken “sides”. With so many different opinions, again, what are we to do?

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (NIV)

Ask God. Could it be that simple? Could it be we all need to shut our mouths and open our hearts and minds to what God would desire? This has been me for the past month. I’ve been searching and here’s what I’ve found.

1. I’m a sinner saved by grace. I’m as guilty of sin as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Lord, please forgive me for my judging attitude.
2. Wisdom requires asking. I am to ask for wisdom while I pray and read the Bible. This asking requires me to quiet my heart and mind to what God desires to share and to realize that His ways are not my ways.
3. Christians should pray for other people. We are to hold each other up. Let’s listen to how Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21 NIV:

“My prayer is not for them (Christians) alone. I pray also for those (non-believers) who will believe in me through their (Christians) message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21 NIV *parenthesis added for clarity

I love how Jesus is calling for unity here. “Now, foreseeing the addition of many more who would increase the diversity of temperaments, backgrounds, and interests, he made a special plea that all might be one…He was not calling for uniformity, since he and the Father are distinct from each other and have different functions; nor was he calling for agreement in external opinion. He predicted that the unity would be one of nature.” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 167)

We are called to be an example to those around us. We are to draw others to Jesus by our message. What message are you communicating to others? I’ll be posting via twitter and my facebook page a hashtag that I’m praying will catch on by others: #prayforPOTUS. I did not make this hashtag up, but the majority of the time it’s been used has been like this: we should pray because we don’t agree. This is, again, divisive. We pray because we ought to pray…end of story.

Will you commit with me to pray for our president? Pray that God would give President Obama and President-elect Trump the wisdom they would need during this transition? It’s time for our message to be that of love and unity; we all belong to God!

#prayforPOTUS

Image courtesy of deviantart.com/clandrigan757

Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol 9, John-Acts, by Merrill C. Tenney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

© 2016 Susan M. Sims

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