KINGDOM PROMISES: STUFF THAT LASTS

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

If God were teaching us in a classroom setting, He might draw a line down the center of the chalkboard and put these headings at the top of each column -- "Stuff that doesn't last" and "Stuff that does last." And He says to not get too attached to earth-stuff because it "passes away." Our great love, our great passion, and our great pursuit should be for the "will of God" things that we cannot lose. The rest is "just stuff." It's all part of Jesus' command to "seek first the kingdom of God," even though we're surrounded by people who are totally consumed with getting possessions, getting promotions, getting prosperity, or getting prominence.

-- Ron Hutchcraft 

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A PRAYER FOR THE U.S. ELECTION

“The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6b NLT)

O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, not only of individuals but of nations and governments as well. As the Scripture says, we know that the government rests on Your shoulder, yet we act as if it all depends on us. Grant us the grace and the courage to put our trust and hope in You. You are our Sovereign God, and there is no other. We acknowledge You are Lord of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We confess that we are experiencing fear and anxiety today, yet we know You are greater than those things that come against us. We pray for the 2024 Presidential Election, for Your guidance, and for peace and safety for all.

We are grateful for the privilege of being able to organize ourselves politically. We are grateful for the freedom to vote and to express our political views. But help us remember that what matters most is Your will and reign in our lives.

We confess to you sometimes we are so loyal to our politics that we lose sight of our brothers and sisters. We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other not as enemies, but as brothers and sisters, created in Your image.

We confess that our actions, our words, our rhetoric have caused divisions. We pray for this deeply divided and evenly split nation. May we come together for the common good and do as you have called us to do in Micah 6:8 - to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Help us act out of grace, mercy, and justice rather than out of arrogance or fear.

Lord, guide us in Your way, Your truth, and Your life.

Help us to listen in love, work together in peace, and collaborate with one another as we seek to make our community, our nation, and the world the creation You intended from the beginning.

In the name of Jesus, our Savior and King, we pray. Amen.

– Adapted from First United Methodist Church in Ormond Beach, Florida 

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KINGDOM PROMISES: DIVINE PURPOSE AND DIRECTION

“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”  (Psalm 103:19 NIV)

The Kingdom of God is unlike any earthly government we know. It doesn’t operate on democracy where we have rights and can cast votes. Instead, it’s a divine monarchy, where Jesus is King and Lord. In His Kingdom, we don’t have rights; we have responsibilities. As citizens of His Kingdom, we’re called to live in obedience to His righteous and gracious decrees.

This isn’t about losing our freedom but embracing a life filled with divine purpose and direction. Our King’s decrees are not burdensome; they are life-giving and rooted in love. When we submit to His rule, we align ourselves with His will, which is ultimately for our good and His glory.

In God's Kingdom, our responsibilities are privileges in disguise. We’re tasked with loving one another, serving the needy, and spreading the gospel. These responsibilities transform our lives and the lives of those around us, reflecting the love and grace of our King. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources 

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KINGDOM PROMISES: REFLECTING THE LIFE CHRIST CALLS US TO

How can we actually avoid speaking ill of others? Here’s what I do when I am at my best and exercising restraint. First, I remember the call of Christ to avoid judging and to avoid calling names (Matthew 5:21-22). My aim is to do Christ’s will. Speaking ill of others does not accomplish my aim. Second, I try to search my own heart to see what is behind my need to speak ill of the other person. Usually the motivation will be fear, jealousy, insecurity, or revenge. I remind myself of the words of Mark Twain, “Among human beings jealousy ranks distinctly as a weakness; a trademark of small minds.” Third, I make it a point to look for the good in the other and to focus on lifting that up rather than pointing out the person’s weaknesses. Fourth, I remember the biblical call to humility, and remind myself that I may not be seeing the other the way God sees him or her. I may not know all the facts. And I remember the many ways in which I fall short of God’s plans (Romans 3:23)…

In many ways the evidence of our faith is found in our ability to control our tongue (or our keyboard). When you find Christians who speak ill of others, who tell half-truths, who resort to name-calling, remember the words of Jesus and the apostles and ask if this person reflects the life Christ call us to. The most important time to ask that question is the next time you prepare to hit the “enter” key when you are saying of another “You fool!” or let loose with your own “unwholesome talk” (Ephesians 4:29)…

Looking for the good in those with whom we disagree, expressing humility to admit that you may be wrong, and seeking to remove the log from your own eye before removing the splinter from your neighbor’s eye (Matthew 7:5) -- these are the characteristics of Christ’s followers. And it is in remembering and practicing these Scriptures that Christians will stop being the wedge that divides our nation, and start acting instead as bridge-builders and peace-makers. 

-- Adam Hamilton in “Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White” 

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KINGDOM PROMISES: TAMING THE TONGUE

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.”  (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

The Greek word for “unwholesome” is sapros. It means rotten, putrid, or worthless -- and in this context I believe Paul means to describe, in part, the words we use to destroy others, for in the rest of the verse he contrasts this first form of speech with that which is “helpful for building others up.”

James is perhaps best known for his words about how we speak about others. He writes, “The tongue… is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of [one’s] life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell… No one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse [human beings], who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers [and sisters], this should not be.” (James 3:6, 8-10 NIV)

I would ask, does the Lord give us an exemption from practicing the Scriptures when it comes to our political leaders, those who hold office, and others with whom we disagree? Are we allowed to lay aside the Golden Rule? Do James’ and Paul’s and Jesus’ words regarding our speech and our enemies no longer apply when discussing those whom we disagree with politically? As James says, “This should not be so!”

This does not mean that we are not to practice discernment. Nor does it mean that we should remain silent in the face of wrongdoing. Yet we can make known our disagreements with others while doing so in love and with respect for the other.   

-- Adam Hamilton in “Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White”

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