The Morning After (the election)

This morning a lot of us woke up and immediately reached for our phones to check and see who won the Presidential election yesterday. Some of us reacted with relief and optimism, some felt an overwhelming sense of despair. We are divided people. So where do we go from here?

To a divided culture Paul wrote in Romans 12 “so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.” 

In Ephesians 4 the Word says “I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Let’s recognize that the other side’s responses might be beyond our comprehension but reflect genuinely held values and hopes for our country. And together let’s affirm our relationships with each other, commit to learning and growing together in our understanding, and continue to pursue the peace and unity that is to characterize our individual relationships with each other and the body of Christ. Our world needs that comfort, His hope, and the ultimate “win” we will experience together in the presence of Jesus.

And in confidence let’s remember that, according to Scripture, God is sovereign and whomever wins does so in His administration of nations. Let’s keep our eyes on Him and as His church, offer the encouragement, the hope and the comfort of Jesus to each other and those around us. May we offer peace, unity, and acceptance to all.

And regardless of how you find yourself responding to the election results, let’s be a people who pray for our leaders, our government, our culture, our city and our church. May our responses be responses of reconciliation and peace with those on the other “side” and may God’s will be done and may He bless you today.