Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Kings 17
Titus 3
Hosea 10
Psalms 129-131
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Titus 3:1–2 (CSB): “Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
I write each of these Scriptural reflections at least one day before you read them. This is the reason why I am able to have them automatically sent out very early each morning.
Since I am writing this article at least 24 hours before you read this, that means that you know much more how Election Day will turn out than I currently do. As I punch out these words on a keyboard, voters are just now venturing out to the polls to make their voices heard on this final day to cast votes for the United States 2020 election cycle.
I have no idea how Election Day will play out. I don’t know if there will be clear winner by the end of the night. I don’t know if it will become clear that President Trump will win reelection or former Vice President Joe Biden will be our next President.
It is beneficial that I don’t know because the verses that I have chosen from our Bible reading today aren’t dependent upon who wins the election.
Titus 3:1–2 (CSB): “Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.”
We learn in our verses for today (and in various other Biblical passages) that we are to “submit to rulers and authorities.” We are to be model citizens. Specifically, that means that we will:
- “obey” – as long as their laws don’t conflict with God’s laws, we comply.
- “be ready for every good work” – we do what is right, good, helpful, etc.
- “slander no one” – we don’t commit verbal assassination.
- “avoid fighting” – we don’t allow anger to cause us to seek the harm of others in our words or actions.
- “be kind” – we are known for being nice to others in our words and actions.
- “always showing gentleness to all people” – we are known for being calm in our words and actions.
As I write this on Election Day morning, I am well aware that business owners have boarded up their businesses in some of America’s largest cities. They anticipate that there will be thugs who will, once again, “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Christians should never, ever be in their midst. We have been called by Almighty God to a much higher standard, regardless of who our leader is.
So, regardless of who our next leader is, I hope and pray that Christians will not take our cues from the sinful world system. I pray that we behave in accordance with God’s commands and expectations as citizens of this great country.
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Lord Jesus, while we as American Christians have a responsibility to participate our elections, we ultimately realize that You are Almighty God. You will have Your way in who is put into office. So, we rest in Your care and ultimately desire to be the citizens that You expect of us. Help us to obey Your Word, regardless of who our next leaders will be. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 