Before and After the Vote - Martin Wiles

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2 NLT

The 2016 presidential election year in America was hotly contested. Most Americans were not satisfied with the two primary candidates. Some didn’t vote because they didn’t like the proposals of either candidate. Others chose the lesser of what they considered two evils. In the end, the candidate many thought would never win the White House did. 

Voting is a wonderful privilege. Some live in countries where they don’t enjoy the privilege. Even in America, the right to vote for women and other minority groups was hard-won through demonstrations, fights, misunderstandings, anger, and finally laws. 

While there is no Bible verse telling us to get out and vote—Christians in the first century were under Roman rule and weren’t given the opportunity to vote—God does give us principles that govern our relationship with the governing authorities. 

We should vote our conscience—if and only when it has been programmed by the principles of God’s Word. While God’s Word doesn’t tell us to vote or what political party to align with, it does give us God’s moral standards. When possible, we should choose candidates who follow God’s principles. Unless the candidate is a Christian—which is often not the case—no candidate will do this completely to our satisfaction. But we can choose the one who comes the closest. 

We should make an informed vote. Not liking either candidate, not knowing where they stand on the issues, or not having time aren’t valid excuses. We make time for anything that’s important, and voting, when we have the privilege, should be one of them. 

We should also pray before and after the election. When we pray, God will guide us to make the appropriate selection. If our candidate of choice doesn’t win, we’re still responsible for praying for them. Early Christians were given this mandate while having no voice in who ruled over them. Whether we have a choice or not, we’re still accountable for praying for the governing authorities which God has established for a particular time and moment. 

Voting is a privilege. If you have it, don’t shun it. And after you’ve done it, pray for those who are elected. 

Father, I thank you for giving me the privilege of choosing those who will rule over me. But if I can’t decide, guide me to pray for those who are elected. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Those Ugly Labels - Martin Wiles

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NLT

I took the label and went on my merry way.

Mid-term elections arrived. Although I don’t normally vote in them, I decided to vote this time. Several candidates were on the ballot who I wanted to cast my vote for. As I waited in line at my precinct, an older lady stood by to give to or paste on a sticker for those who voted.

My turn arrived, and I walked to the booth. After casting my ballot, I walked away. The elderly lady greeted me. I opened my coat, and she attached the sticker to my shirt. Then, I was off to work.

Later that day, a co-worker asked, “Did you take your grandchildren with you to vote?”

“No,” I said.

“I just wondered,” she said, “after what your sticker says.”

I looked at the sticker. It read, “Future Voter.”

I suppose everyone got the same label as I had. Maybe some of them were asked the same thing. How the mix up happened, I’m not sure, but I had been labeled something I wasn’t.

According to the gospel writer, anyone who trusts in Christ as their Savior is labeled a child of God. Welcomed into His family. No more an outcast … or an orphan. But a child, and a co-heir with Christ.

Labeling seems to be the human way. Divorced. Abused. Orphan. Homeless. Poor. Rich. Middle Class. Nice. Mean. Stuck up. Short. Fat. Blonde. The list is endless, and when we run out of labels, we invent more to fit the situation.

Labels aren’t necessarily bad … unless we develop stereotypes and then start treating people based on those stereotypes. This leads to unjust judging, which Jesus condemned. 

Child. Now, there’s a worthy label. I belong to someone—hopefully, parents who love me. And when we’re children of God, we don’t have to worry about the love, concern, and care. God loves His children, presently and eternally, and will give them all the essentials of a love relationship that they can’t find anywhere else. Further, He’ll provide all we need to accomplish His plan for us.

The old chant was wrong: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” They can, but only if we forget who we are in Christ.

When others label you unfairly, remember God’s label is the only one that counts.

Prayer: Father, when others label us with ugly labels, help us remember the label You give us: children.

Tweetable: Have you been labeled? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Before and After the Vote - Martin Wiles

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2 NLT

Many have fought for the right to cast the ballot.

The 2016 presidential election year in America was hotly contested. A majority of Americans were not satisfied with the two primary candidates. Some didn’t vote because they didn’t like the proposals of either candidate. Others chose the lesser of what they considered two evils. In the end, the candidate many thought would never win the White House did.

Voting is a wonderful privilege. Some live in countries where they don’t enjoy the privilege. Even in America, the right to vote for women and other minority groups was hard-won through demonstrations, fights, misunderstandings, anger, and finally laws.

While there is no Bible verse telling us to get out and vote—Christians in the first century were under Roman rule and weren’t given the opportunity to vote—there are principles that govern our relationship with the governing authorities. And while a small number of Christians believe we shouldn’t vote, I beg to differ.

I need to vote my conscious—if and only when it has been programmed by the principles of God’s Word. While God’s Word doesn’t tell me to vote or what political party to align with, it does give me God’s moral standards. When possible I should choose candidates who follow God’s principles. Unless the candidate is a Christian—which is often not the case, no candidate will do this completely to my satisfaction. But I can choose the one who comes the closest.

I should make an informed vote. Not liking either candidate, not knowing where they stand on the issues, or not having time aren’t valid excuses. I make time for anything that’s of importance to me—and voting when I have the privilege should be one of them.

I also should pray before and after the election. When I pray, God will guide me to make the appropriate selection. If my candidate of choice doesn’t win, I’m still responsible for praying for them. Early Christians were given this mandate while having no voice in who ruled over them. Whether I have a choice or not, I’m still accountable for praying for the governing authorities which God has established for a particular time and moment.

Voting is a privilege. If you have it, don’t shun it. And after you’ve done it, pray for those who are elected.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for giving us the privilege of choosing those who will rule over us. When we live in countries where we can take part, guide us to make the proper choice and then to pray for those who are elected. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.