Thought for Today
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Tonight is the night of ‘the great debate.’ Regrettably (?), I will miss the event due to my Masonic Lodge meeting. But if all the media hype I have been subjected to is true, tonight will be the deciding event that will help us all determine for whom we will vote in November. The fate and future of the U.S.A., according to all that hype, hinges on the performances of the 2 presumptive nominees tonight. Certainly the advertising departments of all the media have not exaggerated the significance of tonight in a crass attempt to increase the cost of advertising!
I did not view it as a coincidence this morning when I read my devotional in Daily Devotions with William Barclay. Rev. Barclay wrote on this passage under the title “Christians and Their Neighbors.” He began with “We are to live in harmony with one another.” As I read those words, I could not help but wonder to what extent anything said tonight might facilitate our living together with one another in harmony. Irrespective of which party or candidate one supports, or whether one supports either, could a single television ‘debate’ have any positive affect on our living together in harmony?
Televised Presidential debates have become de rigueur since JFK debated RMN on Monday, September 26, 1960. Many credit Kennedy’s election in large part to his better use of the somewhat new media of television. Whatever the reason or reasons, ever since that first debate, televised Presidential debates have become an inescapable element in our election process.
As a Christian, my question remains, “to what extent might anything said tonight facilitate our living together with one another in harmony. Irrespective of which party or candidate one supports, or whether one supports either?” Tomorrow morning, will our nation be any less divided, any less consumed by anger, any less prone to violence? And, will the performance of either in this ‘debate’ prove to be an accurate prophecy of how they will perform if elected? The only unique element in this particular ‘debate’ is that we have a former President ‘debating’ our current President. Maybe, instead of looking to the ‘performances’ tonight, we should evaluate their proven performances as President.
As Christians, our time would be better spent evaluating our own lives in terms of Paul’s words to the Romans. We are instructed to “Luke 20:25 . . . give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." I understand Jesus’ words as encouragement to me to be a Christian citizen of the nation in which I live. I should vote in its elections. I should carefully evaluate the promises and policies each candidate espouses and supports. I should choose and vote with my mind, my heart and with the presence of the Holy Spirit in both.
More importantly for me, as a Christian, I should live every moment of every day with those words of Paul resounding in my mind and in my heart. Jesus said it very simply, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Debate day, election day, every day, we are called to love each other. We are called to “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.”
Our minister in Houston used to quote Paul’s words as often as I am wont to quote Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” I find the message in each the same; and, I find the message an explanation of what Jesus meant by telling us to love God and to love each other.
Tonight, as you watch and listen, if you watch and listen, next Thursday, and in all the days to come until November 5th, keep Paul’s words and Jesus’ words in your hearts and minds. Remember Rev. Barclay’s words, “Christians and Their Neighbors.” “18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Stay safe, it does depend on you, trust God,
Pastor Ray