Many of you who read “A thought to ponder” each week have things going on in your lives. We all know things are going on in our country, too. I mean right now we are all dealing with a General Election that is now eleven days away. On that subject, let me encourage you to vote. More importantly, let me encourage you to vote in person more so than even early. You could do a mail probably but vote in person. We have voted and it was good as it confirmed our vote but it was also great to see so many others exercising the right to vote. In Florida and your state, there are opportunities for early voting. Check out the Supervisor of Elections for your county. They will have hours and locations where you can vote.
Now beyond that, there are a lot of things you might be dealing with in your personal life. I know as I mentioned last week I am having a medical test ordered by my Dr. and also, for us, we are cleaning up and fixing some things around the house from the recent visit by Milton. Sure am glad he won’t he coming back to visit. Can I get an Amen?
Now neither of these examples are all that impactful, but they cause life to adjust. It is not as easy as going a day or week of doing whatever spontaneously comes along. There has to be planning and coordination. Now honestly for someone like me, that is great. I thrive on structure, function, and order, or as my wife says you are a little OCD. Now I have never been diagnosed in that way, but I certainly have the tendencies.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is talking first about the gift of tongues. Then he discusses and directs to the subject of worship. He notes in verse 40-
Let all things be done decently and in order.
Yes, specifically he is discussing how we should address worship. Yet there is also an overreaching theme that as believers we can apply in life. The things we do and say should mimic that same ideal. There is never a time when we should not be decent and orderly in the way we conduct our lives.
This truth is probably no more needed than today. We’re in a world that desperately needs the Lord. A Savior in Christ is the one thing everyone needs.
Jesus said in John 10:10-
The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
We all know what is happening around us is wrong and evil. This world is infected with an unholy spirit. In The Epistle of 1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
As believers, we pray regularly. We pray for our country which certainly needs it right now. We pray for our friends and families. We ask the Lord to work in our lives. When we do, it is so His will can be done so that He may be glorified and exalted.
There is an old adage that says that certainly is enough to pray over. That is so true and we experience it every day as we get up in the morning and go through the day. This would be a good time to be reminded of what our Savior said as recorded by the Apostle John in his gospel John 10:14-18
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.
18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Now you have to admit as a believer those are some very encouraging and comforting words. They were meant to be, but more importantly, they were meant to speak truth for those who heard it then or read it today. For there is a reality that John then shared as to the people’s response to Jesus' words.
John 10:19-21
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.
20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?”
21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Those three verses sum up the entirety of how men consider God and His Son. It also clearly defines how men consider others around them. It is a true reminder that as the Scripture says in 1 Samuel 16:7 when Samuel was given the task to find the next king.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Trusting you have a great day in the Lord. Pray for our country and if you think of me I would covet your prayers. In closing, remember to vote early in person. If you must use mail, do so. If neither then be sure to vote on November 5th.
PS-we voted in person earlier this week
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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