The 3rd and 5th

Many of us are anticipating November 4^th when our country will elect a new president and local leaders to guide us into the future. What about the 3^rd and the 5^th of November? Prior to the 4^th and then after the 4th we have the power and influence to vote. Every day of our life we are voting by the way we live our lives. Voting is simply allowing one’s voice or opinion to be heard often in a formal setting (Webster’s Online).

How do you vote when there is no formal setting? Is your life reflecting your vote/voice on November 4^th when you go to the polls? Will you vote pro life on November 4^th? On November 5^th you will need to reflect on James 1:27, “…pure religion is looking after the orphan.” Are you willing to take the next steps for your life to vote pro life? If one is pro life he or she must consider participating in foster care by opening one’s home. Have you thought about adoption? If one is pro life then they must embody the belief system to take care of the orphans. Will your life vote for the orphans?

Possibly when you go to the polls you will vote against war? Will your life reflect a belief system on the 5^thth we need to reflect on Romans 12:17-21, “…if your enemy is hungry feed him…overcome evil with good.” Will your life vote for good versus evil? when someone does evil to you? When someone does evil to you what will be your response? What will your life vote be when someone has road rage; will you respond with road rage? Prior to the 4

Others may be faced with political concerns regarding healthcare and social security. What will our lives vote for in light of Matthew 6 and Romans 12:13; “…offering hospitality to those in need.” We may be challenged to simply give money, but God’s word often calls us to open our home for those who may not have healthcare or social security or simply someone who is in need. Will our lives vote not only to give but to open our homes?

What if the elections do not go in your favor? We are still called as Christ followers to vote with our lives every day. Voting with our lives will call us to action to go into the world as Christ followers. When the body of Christ is focused on glorifying God with one voice (Rom. 15:6) we may be challenged to truths we have ignored.

No matter what happens on November 4^th God has called us to an undivided covenant relationship with Him (I Cor. 7:35). The task at hand is to vote with our lives, the reward will be a refreshing glimpse of Heaven on Earth (Matt. 6:10).

Please pray for us as Kingdom people who follow Christ not to have divided affairs of this world, but to be slaves of Christ who put their hope, faith and dependence upon Him and Him only. We have been bought with a price (I Cor. 7:23) and we are not called to vote different on November 4^th than what we would vote any other day of the year.

How are you voting?