Hope and Faith

that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. (Esther 9:28 ESV)

Hope and Faith

I have finally reached a point much like faith regarding my lawnmower. For many years, starting my lawn mower usually led to mechanical tinkering. Something was often wrong, and I spent time fixing it. But one year we bought an actual new lawnmower! One that was of excellent quality. This lawnmower has never given me trouble when I start it.

And I am beginning to believe this lawnmower will continue to be reliable.

At the end of the book of Esther, a new holiday was proclaimed. On Purim, the people of God were to remember. But not just with their minds. They also remembered with their hearts. They recalled their troubles, and God’s salvation. They remembered their fears, and God’s resolution. They remembered their weakness, and God’s power.

When we remember with our hearts, it can be called faith.

And this kind of faith leads to hope.

For the intertestamental Israelites, remembering what God had done through Esther gave them hope that the empires of Alexander, the Seleucids, and the Romans would not prove too much for God. Remembering that God put His people in just the right place, at just the right time gave them hope that God would bring just the right person at just the right time in the future, too. Remembering that God surprised doubters in the exile gave them hope that God would surprise doubters tomorrow, as well.

Their faith gave them hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

Faith and Love

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (Ephesians 1:15,16 ESV)

Faith and Love

My mother was a coffee-chum with a woman whose son was in my grade in high school. But Bob, her son, and I did not get along. I considered Bob to be a muscle-bound brainless buffoon. He had no sense of humor, did not understand subtlety, and had the emotional vulnerability of a gnat. He considered me to be a nerd’s nerd. To him, I was a bookworm, uncoordinated to the point of goofiness, far too complicated, and had the usefulness of a worn-out old sock.

But our mothers, when they spoke, described our thoughts, actions, and intentions with Nobel-Prize-Winning glory. They believed we COULD become friends. They believed we WOULD treat each other with kindness. They believed we WERE what they imagined us to be.

Because mothers often have faith in their beloved children.

We believe in those we love, and we love those we believe in.

We see this most clearly in our Savior, older brother, and bridegroom, Jesus Christ. He loves His people, and so has faith in us, seeing us as those He has redeemed. What He did for us on the cross changed us, in His eyes.

Paul writes to the Ephesians, here, and connects their faith in the Lord Jesus with their love of the church. The two are intertwined. Particularly, their faith in Christ allows them to love the ones He loves. And their love of each other gives foundation to their faith.

God enables us to love Him and each other so that we can have the blessing of faith. It is grand to be able to stomp out some cynicism via faith. It is grand to be able to stomp out some doubt via faith. It is grand to be able to stomp out some selfishness via faith.

Take the love God grants us.

Faith and Hope

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:14-17 ESV)

Faith and Hope

My grandmother always had strong and tasty peppermints. It was a Dutch thing. Regardless of any other events or activities, Grandma had those mints to distribute. Rain or sun, morning or evening, laughing or crying, she provided those mints.

Knowing that those mints were reliably going to be put in my hand whenever I was with Grandma gave me a small amount of hope. Mint-hope is not that impressive, though. I liked them well enough, but I did not need them. I enjoyed them just fine, but I did not yearn for them. I found pleasure in them, but they were not particularly helpful, encouraging, or life-changing.

But I have hope that I will receive something better.

Paul promises that Christians will be given faith.

I can imagine situations in my future where I will need faith. And God gives hope that He will provide the faith I will need. And you can cling to that hope, too.

I will probably encounter fearful things. But I have hope that God will provide me with the faith I will need. I will probably be hurt, physically and emotionally. But I have hope that God will provide me with the faith I will need. I will be lonely. But I have hope that God will provide me with the faith I will need. I will be sorely tempted. But I have hope that God will provide me with the faith I will need. I will sin. But I have hope that God will provide me with the faith I will need. I will even have doubts… But I have hope that god will provide me with the faith I will need.

And that is better than peppermints.

Take the hope God grants us.

Faith and Faith

FAITH AND FAITH

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:6 ESV)

I receive emails from the deposed Crown Prince of Nigeria. He offers me a wonderful deal. All I need to do is send him my financial information, and he will deposit a King’s Ransom in my account. Most of which I can keep. For some reason, I doubt the veracity of this offer.

It is too good to be true.

The gospel also seems too good to be true. Someone ELSE paid my ticket to heaven? God loves me in SPITE of my sin? Forgiveness does not require equaling the balance between good and evil in my life? The gospel is offered to me, freely?

Rationally, the gospel is too good to be true.

But I have chosen to believe it. Because God has enabled me to have faith. To accept Him as He declares Himself to be.

And His offer of salvation through faith is not a new thing offered uniquely to me. But God has given faith to His people from the beginning. Faith, given to us by God, has always been the pathway to heaven.

Abraham believed, and God chose to count that belief as righteousness. Faith alone was enough. Faith, given by God, was all Abraham needed, way back then.

And it is true for us, too.

Take the faith God grants us.

Justice and Love

Justice and Love

When we achieve justice here on earth, it is an act of love for God’s people.

According to this verse, justice brings joy to us. Maybe because justice at its core is a Godly thing, so taking part in justice brings us closer to Him. Maybe because as image bearers of God, emotionally and intellectually, there is satisfaction in justice. Maybe because all of creation, once called, “very good,” (Genesis 1) resonates with the Holy when justice is found.

But whatever the reason, justice is good for us. Even though it hurts sometimes, even though it pushes us, even though it reminds us of sin’s grip, justice is good for us.

This is why Christian parents attempt to be just towards their children. (Genesis 18:19) This is why Christian businessfolk use just scales. (Proverbs 16:11) This is why Christian leaders hate corruption (Habakkuk 1:4)

Providing justice is an act of love.

Take the love God grants us.

Justice and Hope

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10 ESV)

Justice and Hope

In a way, salvation is about the hope we have concerning God’s justice.

Although we attempt (in foolishness) to hide it, Christians know we are sinners. We do not hear others talk about their ongoing sin, and we think maybe they are not as sinful as us. We do not hear others talk about their failed temptations, and we think maybe they are stronger than we are. We do not hear others talk about how slow sanctification is, and we think maybe they are walking faster than we are.

But sin is sin, and deserves death. (Romans 6:23)

And so we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are doomed.

But God is amazingly loving. He makes an exchange. He killed Jesus with OUR death.

And so justice becomes clothed in hope. Because we know that Jesus has already taken the terrible part of justice on Himself, justice becomes a blessing for us.

Because God is just, we know have hope of heaven.

Take the hope God grants us.

Justice and Faith

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1,2 ESV)

Justice and Faith

I once watched a man, let’s call him Trevor, try some legal tricks in court. Trevor was attempting to be repaid for what he deemed an unjust action by his neighbor. Apparently, his neighbor had lied to Trevor on a contract. But in his eagerness to prove the neighbor guilty, Trevor stretched the truth himself, and the judge caught him. Everything that Trevor wanted from his neighbor was inflicted on Trevor instead.

Justice is a two-edged sword. Jesus warns us that when we are eager to call down judgement on someone else, it is dangerous. When we are in an accusing mood, our own sins tend to become amplified. The judgement that we demand be imposed on HIM often comes crashing down on ME.

That should concern us. Because our attitude about justice being hammered on others is often really yet another reason for justice to be hammered on ourselves.

Justice is a part of Who God is. God is always fair, giving to each what we deserve. But in one amazing situation He has redefined how justice is, was, and will be meted out. In Jesus Christ, the justice that God brings is brought against His Son instead of the guilty.

When we are mired in our thoughts about justice, either the justice we think OTHERS should receive, or those times when we are aware how justice would not normally be our friend, there is good news.

God is absolutely just, but His justice is even better than we think. He found a way to give forgiveness to His people without breaking His own rules of justice. Jesus volunteered to take the justice due us on Himself.

Believe in Jesus, and justice changes… without really changing at all.

Take the faith God grants us.

Authority and Love

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19, 20 ESV)

Authority and Love

Assuming that we accept that all authority comes from God, and is only delegated to us, (Matthew 28:18) we next get to ask WHY He has entrusted us thusly.

Our authority seems linked to our profit. In elementary school, I wore a crossing guard sash, and I enjoyed the small power to tell other children when they could move their feet. My mother once joined the ‘Church Decoration Committee,’ on my request, so that she could add Christmasy Wedding decorations for DeAnne and my December wedding. I knew a girl who desired to be mayor some day because her young eyes had observed, “the mayor can do whatever they want.”

But Jesus did not delegate authority (in any arena) to His people for their personal gain. Instead, when sending His disciples out into the world with power, He reminds them that every joule of power they wielded was only to be viewed in the context of their relationship with God. They were to rejoice because of their citizenship in God’s Kingdom, not because of the excitement they felt at the power that results.

And the same is true for us.

Whatever authority God has delegated to us, whether Emperor or slave, has been entrusted to us for a better reason than our enjoyment. We have authority to better serve others.

In this light, love and authority are tightly entwined. We have been given what authority we have because of love. We have been given what authority we have through love. We have been given what authority we have so that we can love.

We are not given authority because we love authority, or because we are being given a reward, or because with authority we get to selectively love.

We are given authority because we ARE loved by God. With the intention that we use our meager authority to display our love for HIM, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Authority and love go hand in hand. We see this in Christ Himself. He is the King, the Master, the Sovereign One. But He uses His authority as a manifestation of His love.

Take the love God grants us.

Authority and Hope

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:10 ESV)

Authority and Hope

I have a cuckoo clock that does not work. Occasionally, I take it from the box and try to use it. That clock usually does SOMETHING right. The minute hand clicks in an orderly manner. Or the bird jumps out exactly on schedule. Or the chains and weights look beautiful and rhythmatic.

But every time so far, SOMETHING also goes wrong. The hour hand sticks annoyingly at ’10.’ The bird does not STOP singing. The chains and weights unwind and fall to the ground.

The clock never works the way it is supposed to work.

Human authority is like that cuckoo clock. It was well designed by the Clock-maker. But as it gets used, SOMETHING goes wrong. Injustice shows up. Mercy is forgotten. The one overwhelms the many, or the many overwhelm the one. Principles are forgotten.

Authority never works the way it is supposed to work.

But some day it will!

Mostly what is broken in my cuckoo clock is a lack of quality materials.

What is lacking in authority is the acknowledgement of Christ Jesus’ kingship.

Paul encourages us by shouting that King Jesus WILL be acknowledged, in heaven and on earth. Then the authority that God has put in place will work… the way He intended it to work!

I do not know when. I only know that the day is coming.

Take the hope God grants us.

Authority and Faith

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18 ESV)

Authority and Faith

Sitting in an airport, waiting to board my flight, I noticed something alarming. A man in a pilot’s uniform was seated nearby. If he was going to be in charge of my upcoming flight, he did not inspire confidence. He was very elderly, with the hand tremors that often accompany age. His uniform was unkempt, his face was unshaven, and shoes were even untied.

As my flight was announced, I was relieved to see that he did not get up to join the flight crew.

Sometimes I have similar fears when observing those in authority. That pilot reminds me of some of the leaders that have been placed over me.

I am not referring to the age, apparel, or physical condition of any particular leader. I am referring to the lack of confidence I have in many leaders’ worldview, heart, experience, or intention.

As insecure as I might be tempted to feel, Jesus’ statement removes all reason to fear the inadequate leadership of those in any power.

Because they are not in charge.

Jesus is.

“All” is a pretty big word. Jesus has ALL authority.

Admittedly, the scary leadership is easier to see, but that does not make it more real. Admittedly, the untrustworthy leadership is sometimes more obvious, but that does not make it more real. Admittedly, the hostile leadership is more threatening, but that does not make it more real.

Because ALL authority belongs to Jesus.

And has for a very long time.

God raises kings and knocks them down. (Daniel 2:21) He always has.

Believe that and relax.

Take the faith God grants us.

Truth and Love

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28 ESV)

Truth and Love

Truth does not exist for its own sake. Truth leads to something else, defends something else, elevates something else, discovers something else, or creates something else.

Something else like Love.

This Proverb points out that when truth is absent in a relationship, unity is lost. Stated more strongly, lack of truth destroys our ability to love.

(The reverse is also true. A lack of love does away with the need or desire for truth.)

Disaster is born in the nest of unloving apathy about truth. Even lies that claim to be founded in protecting others’ feelings, or avoiding conflict, or being ‘nice’ will result in strife, anger, pain, and separation.

One of the best ways to love is to love truth. Even when the truth is hard. Even when the truth is self-destructive. Even when the truth brings tears.

In fact, even when truth brings sorrow (and tears) that truth will ultimately ensure a lack of tears in the fabric of relationship.

This is how Christ uses truth for His people. He points at our sin, calling it painfully what it is. He points to Himself, Truth embodied. He declares His matchless love in His matchless sacrifice. He declares that His cross is the absolute only way to Peace, Joy, and abundant life.

And He waters none of it down.

Love loves truth, and truth lives for love.

Take the love God grants us.

Truth and Hope

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9 ESV)

Truth and Hope

Superman fought for truth, justice, and the American Way. Newspapers used to be crusaders for truth. The Boy Scouts and university mottos espoused truth as a most desirable attribute.

But these days, truth seems to lurk in the shadows. Truth seems to be a mystery to be unraveled. Truth seems to be more hidden than clear, more obscure than understood, and more unknown than known.

So, we yearn for truth, search for truth, and hope for truth.

Today it is a difficult task. Information overload obfuscates truth. Strongly stated opinions cloud truth. Even our sincere hopes shade truth. Truth seems difficult to find.

But chins up!

As daunting as the truth-task is, it will succeed. Not due to our sleuthing skills. Not due to the volume of our cries. Not due to the quality of our investigations. Success in this venture will arrive, not only due to our Great Brains, Sherlock Holmesian deductions, abacus-like memories, and stubborn persistence.

Success in the truth hunt will arrive due to the nature of God’s world.

Truth will be found out.

Not your truth, not my truth, but God’s truth. Not your political understanding, not my political understanding, but God’s truth. Not your presuppositions, not my presuppositions, but God’s truth. Not the truth you think you need, not the truth I think I need, but God’s truth.

We do not need to worry. We do not need to despair. We do not even need to grumble and moan.

Truth will be found out.

Perhaps that might make some afraid.

But I hope it makes us hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

Truth and Faith

Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. (Jeremiah 26:2 ESV)

The Truth and Faith

God tells Jeremiah here to tell ALL the truth. It could have been scary for Jeremiah to tell the whole truth. … for good reason. Jeremiah would have known that the message entrusted to him would be unpopular.

His listeners might throw him in a cistern or something, leaving him to die.

Jeremiah was bringing bad news. God was withdrawing His protection from Jerusalem. So Jeremiah’s message would be discouraging, frightening, and seem faithless to the ‘idea’ of Jerusalem.

He probably would have been tempted to tone it down. Maybe insert a few, “maybe’s.” Alter the text so that it could be heard as a warning instead of a doom. Present God’s message as an one option of many.

Jeremiah, though, told the truth.

And he paid the price. He WAS thrown into a cistern. He was mocked. His prophecy was ignored.

Jeremiah did end up in that cistern, but God blessed him… with peace, protection, and provision. And the knowledge that Jeremiah had done what God asked.

The truth is more important than comfort. The truth is more important than reputation. The truth is more important than comfort. The truth is more important than success. The truth is more important than sleep. The truth is more important than laughter. The truth is more important than false hope.

God has shown it over and over. Because He has shown us, we can stick to the truth and relax.

Take the faith God grants us.

Numbers and Love

But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” (II Samuel 24:10 ESV)

Numbers and Love

This episode in David’s life has always intrigued me. Why was God angry at David for being a good steward? Why was it wrong for David, the Commander-in-Chief of the Israelite army to attempt to be prepared? Why shouldn’t David know the strength of his army?

But today I think I understand it.

It is not simply that David counted the army. But David was counting the army because he was trusting the numbers more than he trusted God. David’s counting displayed that he was insecure about the status of Israel. God had made some clear promises to David about the security of Israel, and the future of David’s line. (I Chronicles 17:2-14)

But David wanted to make sure.

We do this when we relax because our checkbook has balanced positively, instead of noticing that beyond the numbers, God moved his cattle in the best way. (Psalm 50:10) We do this when we have confidence in our IQ instead of God’s knowledge (Proverbs 2:6) We do this when we accept data from outside of God’s Word when it seems to contradict God’s Word. (Psalm 19:1)

Perhaps we love numbers, at times, more than we love God.

But we can rise above that. Trust, in fact, HIS numbers. His Word is filled with them.

Take the love God grants us.

Numbers and Hope

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6,7 ESV)

Numbers and Hope

I used to cheat at cards. I had learned (from an ex-convict) how to shuffle the deck in such a way as to be able to deal out good hands to my partners and bad hands to others at the table. In most casinos, I understand, it is against House Rules to play blackjack in a mathematical way known as ‘counting cards.’ When ‘counting cards’ players pay attention to the number of valuable cards that get used, in order to better predict what cards will next be dealt.

Numbers can be used to do bad things.

But when God uses numbers, He uses them well! He does not need to count anything (See ‘omniscient’) but He uses His created mathematics to keep the world in order. More than that, He uses His numerical knowledge to HELP us.

Jesus is not simply giving encouragement to balding middle-aged men about hair loss. Quite the contrary. Jesus is saying that even in apparently insignificant matters such as the exact number of individual hairs, God uses numbers for our good.

I do not think I would have the patience or focus to count hairs on most people’s head. But God knows that number, and uses it exactly as He intends, somehow for our good. He knows everything about us, forgets nothing, and loves us.

So numbers are a think of hope. Because no matter how our numbers change, God has them in His mind and in His hands. Numbers, whether we understand them or not, are another way that God shows His providential care.

Take the hope God grants us.

Numbers and Faith

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:9 ESV)

Numbers and Faith

It is pretty fun watching young children learn to count. Sometimes they get the order mixed up, sometimes they skip things, sometimes they get bored and just start singing. As they learn to count, they do not yet believe that numbers are serious, sometimes troubling things that contribute to worry.

When checkbooks do not balance, we worry.

When there are not quite enough votes, we worry.

When we measure the doorframe incorrectly, we worry.

When we are not sure how many miles are still ahead of us, we worry.

But children learning how to count have it right. Numbers are useful, and interesting, and sometimes fun… but numbers are never a reason to worry.

Because God has already counted everything. He has the numbers worked out. He knows how everything will add up. The Devil is not in the details, because God is sovereign there, too.

His numbers have never been wrong. He took the perfect number of days to create the universe. He chose and created the perfect number of Israelite tribes. He anointed David with a perfect calendar. He nudged His people into exile, and then drew them out after the perfect number of days. He brought the long-expected Jesus on the perfect holiday.

Death and Love

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV)

Death and Love

Some elements of modern society seem to have a strange affection with death. Voodoo, zombies, goth, and sometimes even Hallowe’en lift death up, enjoy the concept of death, and ignore death’s tragic sorrow.

But I wonder if Christians should glance at death with a bit less hate than we usually do. We should grieve, but rather than grieve like God’s enemies grieve, we have a different light. (1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV) We grieve differently.

Our death grief focuses on a temporary absence when believers die. Our death grief focuses on the empty place in our hearts left by a lost loved one. Our death grief focuses on sin’s deadly effect on creation.

But for Christ’s people, death is the gateway that takes us home. A painful gateway, yes. A dark gateway, yes. A sad gateway, yes. But we will rejoice because we will be with the Lord. And we rejoice because when Christ’s people die here, we live THERE.

Because perhaps the second-best act of love that Christ performed was to transform death. He loved us by changing death from God’s ultimate punishment to God’s ultimate graciousness. He loves us by removing from His people the need to fear what the rest of the world fears. He will love us by welcoming us home, as our eyes close in this world, and open with Him.

So death now is an example of Christ’s love.

Take the love God grants us.

Death and Hope

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26 ESV)

Death and Hope

Jesus and Martha are talking about death. Jesus had shown up too late to save the life of Lazarus, from Martha’s perspective. If Jesus could not (or would not) save the one human that Scripture particularly points out that Jesus particularly loved… why believe in Him?

Jesus, as usual, cuts straight to the point. He claims that not only CAN He save people from the dead, He IS the resurrection Himself. Jesus is not merely AN answer to life’s greatest foe, death, He IS the answer. He claims that role to Martha. And I expect that she still was not fully convinced.

Sure, He is Jesus, and had done some amazing things. But there was Lazarus, dead. Right over there.

But she chooses to believe. She chooses faith, and is also given hope.

Because Jesus does two things. First, Lazarus is resurrected! Jesus undoes the terrible, dark, empty action of death… Jesus fixes what Adam broke so long ago. Jesus gives strength to Martha’s faith. And He gives Martha a bushel basket full of hope.

And even more… in the near future… Jesus undoes death for the rest of us.

Imagine Martha’s hope in later years! Yes, she saw Lazarus die. But she knew JESUS had arisen!

If you have ever lost a loved one to the last gasping power of defeated death, you can relate to Martha. And if you have ever looked, in the midst of your sorrow and frustration, into the empty tomb, you can relate to Martha’s hope.

Believe in Jesus, and what seems like death is not really death. Believe in Jesus and even if your body falls apart, YOU will never actually die.

Do you believe this?

Take the Hope God grants us.

Death and Faith

and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (II Timothy 1:10 ESV)

Death and Faith

Bees used to terrify me. I had grown up believing that a bee sting would destroy me. Allergies, maybe, or perhaps those railroad spikes piercing my tender skin and skewering my flesh. For years I would run from a bee, wasp, hornet, or any sting-weaponed thing.

Then one summer at a lodge in Minnesota I was stung, repeatedly. It hurt. But the stings did not destroy me. My arm did not fall off. The pain eventually diminished. Later, I laughed (a little) about it.

But I have not feared bees since that time. At least not as much. I am not saying that they are my favorite part of creation, but that one event in my past has vanquished my fear. Past events can do that.

Almost 2000 years ago Jesus kicked death in the teeth. For Christians, He changed death from a terrible and just punishment, into the entrance gateway to heaven. Death is still sad, but Jesus changed death into life.

The idea of death can be terrifying. But remember what Jesus did to death. His past victory offers present peace, and exciting hope.

Take the faith God grants us.

Elections and Love

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

Elections and Love

Elections tend to refocus us away from our first love. During this season, we think more about candidates than about Christ. We worry more about winning than about… not worrying. We get angry about the mistakes of other voters, instead of being angry about our own sin. We polarize, separate, assume, accuse, and fume. We could be knowing the Lord’s blessings, rejoicing in the Lord’s presence, and dancing along with David.

I am not able to delight in the election, but I can delight in the Lord. I am not able to delight in the candidate’s behavior, but I can delight in the Lord’s hands. I am not able to delight in the obnoxious advertising, but I can delight in the Lord’s Word. I am not able to delight in the self-justification, but I can delight in the Lord’s holiness. I am not able to delight in the name-calling and conclusion-leaping, but I can delight in the Lord’s knowledge. I am not able to delight in fear and doomsday-expectation, but I can delight in the Lord’s Day.

I am not able to delight in hatred, but I can delight in the Lord.

Maybe ‘delight in the Lord’ refers simply to the Lord’s Love.

He promises us that if we focus in HIM, if we are excited about HIM, if we gleefully cling to HIM, He will give us the desires of our heart.

He is not promising us that our candidate will win. He is not promising us we will get whatever we want. He is not promising us joy because of November 3.

He is promising us faith, hope, and love.

What more do His people desire?

Take the love God grants us.