For me there is a lot of change coming no matter the outcome of the election, I am coming back home from the 11 month mission trip that didn’t look really at all how I thought it would look. I have experienced some amazing moments, hard moments, challenging moments and all of the in between moments.
The election is a big thing but through it all the Lord has been speaking to me about my identity rooted in Him, not in anything that happens in this world including the election. Now does this mean I ignore what is going on in this world? No. Do I let it become my identity though? No. I do have a challenge for believers specifically, are we truly living out what God commands and the Bible teaches us?
Something I have been learning through life honestly is how we are citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth, what does that mean and how do we act on that?
Citizen = a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20
Ambassador = an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us” 2 Corinthians 5:20
“and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20
What are some practical steps to be ambassadors of Christ here on earth?
- Exercise our right to vote for who the Lord calls us to vote for
- Fight for the rights of those who are hurting and marginalized
- Fighting for peace and unity in diverse people groups
- Continue to pray for our government and leaders EVEN IF WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH THEM
- Continue to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifices for reconciliation with us to those around us.
- Know when to speak and when to listen (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
- Put the Lord first in our hearts and desires, coming alongside Him in His vision to bring His kingdom to earth
- Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Repenting from our sins (putting anything including ourselves above the Lord and His desires and direction) – Mark 1:15
- Making followers of the Lord from all nations; baptizing those people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; teaching the lessons Jesus taught when here on earth and after He went to heaven. (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Heal the sick, both physically and spiritually (Mark 16:17-18)
- Feed the hungry, visiting the sick, homing the homeless, visiting the prisoners (Matthew 25:31-46)
- Seek justice, Correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17)
- And so much more! Honestly I plan to do a word study (go through the whole Bible and write down what it says about the Kingdom of God in all the different parts) and I encourage you to do the same and share with me what you found out! 🙂
How this looks politically I don’t know exactly, but that is something we need to figure out together. We are called to listen to the Lord and sometimes He does bring politics in and ways we can live this out. We need to pray, we need to fight for those who are hurting and bring His kingdom to earth.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
I encourage you to take some time with the Lord and ask Him what the above passage speaks to you and then come back and read what He has shown me in it.
Did you bring it to the Lord? I hope so!
The biggest thing the Lord is highlighting right now (and there is a lot that He has shown me in this passage…) is “we are surrounded my so great a cloud of witnesses”, this is the community you live in and you are surrounded by, are they challenging you in your walk? Are you challenging them? Let us remember as Christians we have a responsibility to spread the Lord’s kingdom and even though we are new citizens of heaven we are sent here on behalf of Christ to tell people about all He has taught each one of us. Don’t keep what the Lord has taught you in, He has taught you it to share it to others.
Whatever the results of the presidential election, may we remember our identity in the Lord and being ambassadors sent here on earth to spread His kingdom.
