John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
The Lord Jesus prayed a powerful prayer for you and me. Verse 17 is one part of what we often Christ's "high priestly prayer" that reveals God's pattern for our growth. There are three key terms:
1. "Sanctify" essentially means, "set apart for special (or holy) use."
2. "Truth" is "reality as God defines it."
3. "Word" is God's will, plan, purposes as well as the person of Jesus Christ.
It's a simple and powerful prescription:
Being set part for divine purpose and being used mightily by God results from living in God's reality (His ways) as imparted to us by the Word of God (The Bible) and relationship with Jesus Christ (the living Word).
So, go get into the Word today!
It was disappointing to hear Donald Trump say the words, "I am very proud of myself…" in relation to President Obama releasing his long form birth certificate. A man of character would have taken the opportunity to apologize for disparaging the president and ultimately, his family.
This whole birther "silliness," to use the president's phrase, has served only to demonstrate the hatred that a whole lot of people have for Barack Obama. Sadly, many people, including some Christians have participated in this shameful display of distrust and disrespect for a fellow citizen and our national leader. This is clearly unbiblical behavior.
Politically, it would have been a greater "in-your-face" tactic for President Obama to let his haters continue to stew in their birther foolishness, and later release the long form to their greater embarrassment. He demonstrated character by doing something that was completely unnecessary and beneath him. The man is 49 years old, an accomplished American citizen, devoted family man of one wife, and the President of the United States of America!
There are those who will have the gall to say, "Well, he should have released it sooner!" Only a racist or hateful person would suggest that a duly elected President of the United States is an illegal alien. Regardless of your views of Mr. Obama's policies, he has clearly shown himself respectful and "presidential." He seems to show more personal Christian qualities in these matters than those who belittle him.
The inconvenient truth is this: If President Obama had a "normal" name and "pedigree," none of this would have been an issue. Then again, most minorities in our great, but flawed, nation precisely understand what has occurred.
It's not enough to simply dismiss Mr. Trump (and others) as a fringe element, because his views are shared by an alarming percentage of political partisans. Christian leaders, especially in the GOP and Tea Party need to deal with ungodliness if they claim party membership/ideology or follow the biblical mandate to, "Be separate...come out from among them." (2 Cor. 6:17)
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4,
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1 Samuel 9:1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
6 ...David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Covenant relationship compelled David to remember his covenant brother Jonathan, who was already deceased.
David wanted to do something to benefit some descendent of Jonathan's household. Mephibosheth had been disabled since childhood. He was a cast out in society and overlooked. But because of David's covenant with Jonathan, he did not forget Mephibosheth. Even though he was Saul's grandson, the man who sought to kill him, David harbored no animosity toward Mephibosheth or Saul's family.
David's loyalty and integrity moved him to treat Mephibosheth like one of his family, even when he thought that David was to take vengeance on him.
Are we showing covenant kindness to the family of God and to our own family?
Is there anyone that we are supposed to receive like family, who may seem to be an unlikely recipient, but one whom God is encouraging us to love and serve?
