Author: John Page 89 of 164

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:  and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

On November 16^th, 1776, the Continental Army faced one of its worst defeats in the Battle of Fort Washington.  On that day, the last American stronghold on Manhattan fell to the British and over 2,800 patriots were taken as prisoners of war.  This loss allowed the British to solidify their control of a large geographical area and drove the patriots southwest to prepare for a long winter.

On that day, and on the days to follow, defeat seemed imminent and the revolutionary flame was nearly extinguished.  Their hopes were crumbling; the patriot cause faced discouragement and disillusionment.  Yet, seven years later, General Washington returned to Fort Washington on November 25^th, 1783 and publically reclaimed it for the Americans.  At that point, the Revolutionary War had been won and a peace treaty had been signed.  While things looked bleak in the dark days of November 1776, the end result was triumph.  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!

In twenty-first century America, Christianity at times has faced defeat after defeat while our hopes crumble and our cause faces frequent discouragement and disillusionment.  Yet, we never know when triumph will overcome defeat, even when things look bleak in the darkest of days.  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE END OF THE THING IN AMERICA.  May we never be bogged down with discouragement when the end of the thing is better than the beginning thereof!

I Timothy 2:1-3 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

The tallies are in. The results are finalized. The die is cast.

The campaigning is the easy part; the governing is the tough part. As our next leaders transition into their positions, we need to bathe them in prayer.

We are to pray for our 45th President, President-elect Trump who will swear his Oath of Office on January 20th, 2017. We are to pray for the 115th Congress that begins its term on January 3rd, 2017. We are to pray for next term of the Supreme Court, and the filling of Justice Scalia’s vacancy and the others who may follow. We are to pray for new terms of state governments and local governments. We are to pray for the rulings of newly shaped state and local courts.

We are to pray for us so that we can be more faithful in the coming days, months, and years to pray for government and participate in government.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT. We must never fall short of God’s command to pray FOR ALL that are in authority.

For a related thought, please read: https://prayatlunch.us/such-as-had-ability/

Isaiah 13:11 “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”

Noah Webster wrote: “But in general, the calamity of having evil counselors, legislators, judges, and ministerial officers, is the fault of the electors.”

After invoking “the support and blessings of Almighty God,” President Garfield said: “Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.”

As a nation, we get what we deserve because we elect who we follow. We are responsible, because there is no one else to blame. It is always our fault. Our choices are a reflection of us.

As you make your electoral decisions on Tuesday, please sense the gravity of your decisions. Then be brought to your knees by the weightiness of this responsibility.

PLEASE PRAY FOR TUESDAY’S ELECTION, REALIZING THAT IT REVEALS MORE ABOUT US THAN IT DOES ABOUT OUR CANDIDATES. The results will either be our success or our fault.

II Samuel 23:3 “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

Noah Webster reminded us that:

“Among the last words of David were the following, ‘He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’ It is the neglect of this divine precept, that is, the wickedness of rulers, and the depravity of men who elect wicked rulers, which in every age, have filled the world with violence, and which have brought, and still bring war, oppression and misery upon the human race. And such will forever be the case; if men will not regard the commands of God; if they will not consider piety, religion or moral worth as indispensable qualification in rulers, they must be harassed, defrauded and oppressed; this is the reward of their own disobedience and folly.”

God gave us the instruction manual for voting. Select those who are just and who will rule in the fear of God. We must consider piety, religion and moral worth as indispensable qualifications in our rulers.

Noah Webster’s words are a poignant reminder that we ignore this Biblical direction at our own peril. In fact, we already have neglected this Biblical direction at our own peril. We face violence, war, oppression, and misery as a result. We continue to be harassed, defrauded, and oppressed as the reward for our own disobedience and folly.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD VOTE ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLANS. Otherwise we will receive the reward that we deserve, not the one that we want. It will be due to our disobedience and folly.

I Samuel 17:29 “And David said, What have I now done?  Is there not a cause?”

Noah Webster wrote:

“The great benefit of a republican form of government is, that the people, being the source of all authority, elect their own rulers, who, after a limited time, for which they are elected, return to the condition of private citizens.  In this case the rulers, and the ruled have a common interest.  If the representatives of the people enact unjust or oppressive laws, the people have a remedy, in the power of electing different men for representatives at a subsequent election, who may repeal such laws.  The evils of this form of government are, that ambitious and unprincipled men, in their strife for office, may and often do deceive and mislead the people, or corrupt them by offers of money and offices.  In this case, the government often falls into the hands of wicked and profligate men.”

It is up to us to do something.  There is a cause.  As Webster reminded us of in 1834, the people have a remedy in our form of government.  Our votes and our engagement in the political process is our remedy.  May we stand up with strong voices and be heard.  May our votes reflect our values and reflect our alignment with God’s values.  WE THE PEOPLE are the source of all authority, and must never yield our authority nor our responsibility.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS TO STAND STRONG AS A PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS.  There is a cause and we are to be the remedy.