Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
Tomorrow is Election Day! In the words of the Rev. David Bell, who was the senior pastor I first served under in ministry, he said, “As Methodists, we do not tell you how to vote, but we do tell you to go vote!” I strongly believe that our right to vote is one of the most precious and important rights you can exercise as a citizen.
I’m sure everyone is tired of the barrage of advertising we have seen (except for the accounting department of the advertising agencies). Yet, I do not expect November 3 to magically heal the division and rancor our country and community feels right now. We are divided. We are hurting. In many ways, we are hurting one another. I have had members comment on how politics is dividing families. I’m sure it is dividing our community as well.
Tomorrow is a day of great privilege: we get to choose who governs our community for the next term. Tomorrow we also have a greater opportunity that we face every day: how can we treat others as Christ has treated us: in love? Paul writes, “You have been marked with a seal for the day of redemption.” You live for eternity, not for the next four years! Live today like eternity depends on it, because it does. Show others, whether you agree or disagree on politics, the love of Christ. Their souls may just be changed because of your kindness! No election or disagreement is worth our witness to Christ.
Read again those words in Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
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