Okay, this is important, y’all. I don’t care if you are a Republican, a Democrat, or Independent. This is not about if you voted (or plan to vote) for Mr. Trump or for Mr. Biden. This is a post about what it means to follow Jesus, and what such a commitment requires of us.
Donald Trump is a human being. Plus he is a father and a husband. Because of that he deserves our care and our prayers. The president is sick, having been exposed to the insidious and opportunistic COVID-19 virus. It’s an illness that has been especially hard on older Americans, more so those who are obese and either Type II diabetic or borderline. The president is likely all three.
If we claim to be Christian – and, btw, just as many progressives check that box as conservatives – then we are required by Jesus Christ to be all in when it comes to the application of love.
Let me repeat that phrase. Jesus calls us to be “all in” when it comes to the application of love.
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Forgive me if you believe this is too much in the way of repetition, that you have heard all this before. Let me respond by pointing out that we all have a ways to go when it comes to actually following these principles in our way of life.
I do. You do. We all do.
It really is too easy to relegate this kind of scripture to “a sweet reading we heard at a recent wedding”. But no, this is not just for the happy newlyweds. This is the clarion call of what it means to follow Jesus in the context of life. Everyday life.
My life. Your life. All our lives.
Be kind. Be reasonable. Be compassionate. Be a follower of Jesus. Believe me, we can accomplish far more in the way of radical change if we simply commit to radical love.
The questions is: do we have the courage to live that way?
The president, his wife and everyone who have been affected by this potential deadly virus are in my prayer.
Thank you Derek. I don’t like him, and I don’t consider him my “enemy”, yet Jesus calls us to “ love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44 NIV. I don’t think our country needs 4 more years of his presidency, but trust and obey… May God bless him, the First Lady and the others affected.
Now tell this to Rebecca…
Explain???
This is a good perspective that I’m glad you are sharing. We all should be striving to more loving!
So good. We need to move past the fact of whether we agree with someone or not and see them as a person who deserves love just like anyone else. There are things I disagree with on both sides but I pray for them both!