God & Politics

If you wonder whether God can direct the hearts of political leaders in our county and the world, and thus if prayer for them isn’t a waste of time, look no further than the book of Ezra . . . and I Timothy 2:1-2. Ezra 1:1 says that “in order to fulfill the Word of the Lord,” He “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the King of Persia” to allow Jews to return to Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity and rebuild the house of the Lord. Verse 5 also says that God had stirred the hearts of people to go and do precisely this. Ezra 6:8 says King Darius later added that the cost of building the house of God in Jerusalem would be paid in full by the taxes the Persian government received! Darius even said animals and crops should be provided for sacrifices (v. 9). He wanted God’s people to pray for him (v. 10). God certainly worked in the hearts of these leaders and these people.

I Timothy 2:1-2 says we’re to pray, with “entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, . . . for kings and all who are in authority . . . “

May this be our habit and our hope.

Dealing with Disappointment

Life can be dotted with, and on occasion dominated by, disappointments. Disappointments sometimes define people. Disappointments aren’t all bad for if someone is never disappointed, they probably aren’t striving for anything or expecting anything in life.

Since as Christians, we pray about life, when life is disappointing, we can become disappointed with God. We’re perturbed that He didn’t answer our prayers the way we hoped. We get disappointed because God didn’t meet an expectation.

Job 37:13 helps us understand how God works and why He answers the prayers of sincere servants the way He does. Through Elihu, the one faithful spokesman for God to Job, God says “Whether for correction or for His world or for His lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.” God causes things to go certain ways in our lives for three reasons, this verse says:

1. “For correction” – to correct sin or immaturity in our lives; to make us more like Christ; or, to get us on a correct course in life.

2. “For His world” – the Hebrew word means “inhabited world.” God is constantly doing things for people in the world, for His plan in the world, for His purposes in individuals outside our little world. He may say “no” to our prayers, with the consequence of our disappointment, because He’s doing so many other things for greater purposes. And He’s not obligated to tell us all about His plans!

3. “For lovingkindness” – sometimes, He does say “yes” to our prayers. He bless us; He shows us, as His children, His great lovingkindness. In His love and goodness, sometimes He meets or exceeds our hopeful expectation.

Knowing that God works in these ways makes us trust Him. It gives us security in life. We may face disappointments in life but we don’t have to be disappointed with God. For He has told us how He works and assures us that He will always work everything together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Names of Jesus

Do you ever have trouble sleeping? . . . your mind or your body working overtime when you should be resting?

Or do you struggle sometimes to keep your mind “Fixed on things above rather than things of the earth” (Col. 3:2) amidst the stresses and temptations that accompany life?

May I suggest something that has helped me with these and other challenges, a spiritual exercise that draws me closer to God when I’m awake at night or struggling to keep my focus where it should be:

Think about some of the Names of Jesus. His Names remind us of Who He is and what He has done and can do.

Jesus is:

A – Advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1)

B – The Beloved Son (Matt. 3:17)

C – The Christ (Matt. 16:16) and Creator (Col. 1:16)

D – The Descendant of David and the bright morning star (Rev. 22:16)

E – Everlasting Father (Is. 9:6)

F – Friend of sinners (Matt 11:19)

G – God (Rom. 9:5)

H – High Priest (Heb. 7:26)

I – Immanuel (Matt. 1:23)

J – Jesus (Matt1:21) and Judge (II Cor. 5:10)

K – King of Kings (Rev. 19:16)

L – Lamb of God (John 1:29)

M – Master (Luke 5:5)

N – Nazarene (Matt. 2:23)

O – Only Begotten Son (John 3:16)

P – Propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:25)

Q – Qoheleth, the Preacher of Wisdom (Eccl. 1:1)

R – Redeemer (Eph. 1:7)

S – Savior (Titus 2:13)

T – Truth (John 14:6)

U – The “Us” of Gen. 1:26, United with the Father and Spirit (Matt 28:19-20)

V – The Vine (John 15:5)

W – The Way (John 14:6)

X – Our Example (I Pet. 2:22)

Y – YHWH (John 8:58)

Z – The Zeal of the Lord (John 2:17)

Psalm 9:10 says “Those who know Your Name will put their trust in You.” Our trust must be here, in JESUS.