Good News and Praise

As I sit here Christmas morning and reflect on all the things I have to be grateful for, the obvious being my beautiful wife and my son’s wonderful legacy, our beautiful granddaughter London. I of course am grateful for my health, family and our many friends who seem to surround and shelter us just when we need it most. But this morning it dawned on me that even though I am surrounded by beautiful and wondrous things I am also bombarded daily by evil.

Anyone who hasn’t been living under a toadstool for the last couple of years knows that the United States is going through some trying and troubling times of late. Due to a major lapse in judgment on the part of the electorate we are now faced with an out of control Washington. Politicians who took an oath to govern by the bounds of the Constitution are disregarding the will of the people and spending our Grandchildrens’ grandchildren into the poor house.

Wars and rumors of war captivate the press in every nation except ours. Here in the greatest nation on God’s green earth the media is busy running interference for the ruling party much like a well conditioned NFL offensive line. Meanwhile evil men grow more powerful, and the darkness continues to creep into every facet of our lives.

In my simple, Christian mind, where it is so easy to think and do the right thing, I sometimes forget that not everyone is governed by the same rules. We have leaders who claim to be good, god fearing Christians but disregard His teachings. How are we to expect God to help us if our elected leaders disregard even His most basic laws. I know that God uses evil to do good and He doesn’t really need our help, but don’t you think we could help make his job a little easier by vetting our leaders better in the future, if He lets us have a future; after this fiasco I’m not so sure.

So today I have recommitted myself and exhort you also to make an example of yourself by doing “the right thing” in all things.  It’s pretty simple actually, if we do His will, he is free to fight our battles, but if we don’t, and we refuse to repent of our sin and except His Grace, can we honestly expect the Creator’s intercession on our behalf, in personal, civil or political matters?

My reading today took me to Psalm 5: Here the psalmist offers up a Prayer of Guidance, one that I think is appropriate for time just like these.

1.            Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.
2.            Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray.
3.            My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
4.            For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5.            The boastful shall not stand in your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.
6.            You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7.            But for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8.            Lead me O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make Your way straight before my face.
9.            For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue
10.          Pronounce them guilty O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You.
11.          But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them; Let those also who love Your name, Be joyful in You.
12.          For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.