Thought for Today

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."  

Psalm 18:30 This God-- his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.  

Mark 9:35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."  

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,   . . . 8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;  

Yesterday, I preached on one of my favorite themes, “It is a great truth that in the Bible, all always means all, everyone always means everyone. You, me, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our enemies, every stranger everywhere.” That whole idea still remains in the forefront of my thoughts today. When we returned home yesterday, amidst all of the football games, at least one channel broadcast the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. I watched and listened to a part of that service. I heard several Presidential cabinet secretaries speak. I saw pictures of the large crowd, including the President and the Vice President.

I do try to avoid partisanship in my sermons and in these Thoughts. I do not believe it is proper for me to let such issues invade our congregation’s pulpit. But in that sermon yesterday I repeatedly suggested that in the Bible and in our faith as Christians, all always means all, everyone always means everyone. I even had the temerity to ask our congregation (rhetorically), “Does this mean that MAGA Christians should pray for Bernie Sanders? Should Elizebeth Warren pray for the President?” My response was and still is this morning, “You Betcha!”

I believe that Jesus meant what he said to his disciples and Jesus means for that message to apply to all of us today, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." And, remember, all always means all, everyone always means everyone.

Between now and the mid-term elections in November, 2026, we will see and hear a plethora of news reports, election campaign advertisements and political speeches. We will read countless articles supporting one side or the other. There will be heated and spirited debates . . . usually providing more polemical rhetoric than practical solutions to the many problems confronting our nation and our world today. One of the basic elements of a healthy democracy, or in our case democratic republic, is the open and honest exchange of ideas and opinions. True debate, as opposed to what our media foist upon us as debate, is a valued commodity. Loud shouting and ranting may sell more advertising time on television, but it does not relate in any way to the exchange of ideas and opinions.

As an American who patriotically loves our nation, I certainly have opinions on almost each and every issue now confronting our country and our world. I plan to listen to and read many of the news reports, election campaign advertisements and political speeches. I plan to approach each campaign with an open mind and think a lot about what I read and hear.

More importantly for me as a Christian, I plan to pray. I plan to pray often. Irrespectively of how I cast my votes, I plan to always remember Paul’s advice to Timothy, “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.” I will keep in mind and in my prayers that biblical truism, all always means all, everyone always means everyone. As an American and as a Christian, I will heed Paul’s words, “in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.” I will remember that Jesus didn’t say we always have to agree on every issue; Jesus said, "Luke 10:27 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."

Stay safe, listen, love, pray for everyone, trust God,

Pastor Ray