Presidential Honor
Presidential Honor
This is a historic week in our city, country and as a matter of fact, the whole world. President-elect, Barack Obama will be inaugurated and sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Who would have believed this regardless of your political persuasion? President Barack Obama, the son of an African immigrant and a white teenage girl of all people would occupy the highest post of the land is unthinkable. I thank God that Barack was not aborted in the womb to make room for the convenient lifestyle of his parents. This week also says that there is hope for all of us regardless of our race and creed. It tells me that there can be a future President Jonathan C. Udo. Why not Jonathan or any other of our sons or daughters? I thank God that America has collectively said no to the yoke of hatred and racism that has crippled this nation. It is now up to us, the Church to put flesh to it and reach out across the denominational and racial lines and see all people as God’s creation deserving God’s love.
Well, by now you are saying I should leave politics and government alone. The good news is that Jesus dealt with it by confronting the issues of his time. There is a place and role of government in the society and there are responsibilities we owe to our leaders. Jesus came for our whole life and not just our “Church life”. There is no separation of Church and State for Jesus.
Luke 20:20-26
20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?[d] 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. This was a set-up to see if Jesus would stumble because He has been turning the tables of tradition and religion up-side down. These guys were hoping that Jesus will rip the governor and the government apart. They thought Jesus will yield to their temptation and blast the corrupt government of the time.
2. It has not changed. We are often set-up to lambast our government and governors and presidents. We have all fallen to it. We as a Church have been so guilty of this in the past and in the present. Some of us have no respect and good thing to say about our present and past presidents. It ought not to be so. Honor to whom honor is due is the standard.
3. Notice that the authorities were in agreement that Jesus was only after the truth and spoke the truth. Speaking the truth does not mean we have to disrespect those we need to honor. We lose our message when we disrespect others and Jesus never did that.
4. What exactly is our responsibility to the government? It is tax time in the USA. Should we pay taxes? Right now it is too late to ask that question because the IRS will come after you. The question is, “Should we cheat on our taxes?” This is where the rubber meets the road. The temptations are great; but let’s “render to Caesar the things that are Caesars”. There is great temptation for people to lie on their tax returns claiming donations that were never made to charity. Can we repent and stop it? May God help us! Amen.
5. We have other responsibilities besides paying taxes. 1 Peter 2: 13-17, “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king”. We are to obey the law of the land, and honor the president or king and all in authority. There are great blessings we miss when we do not submit to the authorities God have placed over us whether it is at home, work, school or society. Did you know it is the “will of God” that we submit and honor our presidents? Stop praying for God’s will, here is a clear one to obey. We can equally run for political office. It is God’s will too. Why not?
6. We are to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2: 1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. Let’s commit to praying for our leaders now and in the future. Let’s take our case of injustice and wrong decisions by our leaders to God who can use all things for His glory. No bad-mouthing please. Silence is better.
7. Let us pray. “Lord, we repent of sins of bad-mouthing our presidents and leaders. We ask for your forgiveness. We thank you for all governments and all rulers. We thank you for President George W. Bush for how you have been with him during these 8 years. We pray your blessings on him and his family for their service to the nation. Lord we thank you for the President –elect Barack Obama and his family. You have lifted him from nowhere to rule this nation at this time. May your grace and mercy be sufficient for him. Lord, grant President Obama wisdom and discernment to make the right decisions. We also pray your protection on him and his family and ask that enemies of progress will not snuff his life out. Lord, give your angels charge over him so that he will rule with your fear and that this nation will turn its heart to you. Amen.”
Congratulations, President Barack Obama!
This is a historic week in our city, country and as a matter of fact, the whole world. President-elect, Barack Obama will be inaugurated and sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Who would have believed this regardless of your political persuasion? President Barack Obama, the son of an African immigrant and a white teenage girl of all people would occupy the highest post of the land is unthinkable. I thank God that Barack was not aborted in the womb to make room for the convenient lifestyle of his parents. This week also says that there is hope for all of us regardless of our race and creed. It tells me that there can be a future President Jonathan C. Udo. Why not Jonathan or any other of our sons or daughters? I thank God that America has collectively said no to the yoke of hatred and racism that has crippled this nation. It is now up to us, the Church to put flesh to it and reach out across the denominational and racial lines and see all people as God’s creation deserving God’s love.
Well, by now you are saying I should leave politics and government alone. The good news is that Jesus dealt with it by confronting the issues of his time. There is a place and role of government in the society and there are responsibilities we owe to our leaders. Jesus came for our whole life and not just our “Church life”. There is no separation of Church and State for Jesus.
Luke 20:20-26
20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?[d] 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. This was a set-up to see if Jesus would stumble because He has been turning the tables of tradition and religion up-side down. These guys were hoping that Jesus will rip the governor and the government apart. They thought Jesus will yield to their temptation and blast the corrupt government of the time.
2. It has not changed. We are often set-up to lambast our government and governors and presidents. We have all fallen to it. We as a Church have been so guilty of this in the past and in the present. Some of us have no respect and good thing to say about our present and past presidents. It ought not to be so. Honor to whom honor is due is the standard.
3. Notice that the authorities were in agreement that Jesus was only after the truth and spoke the truth. Speaking the truth does not mean we have to disrespect those we need to honor. We lose our message when we disrespect others and Jesus never did that.
4. What exactly is our responsibility to the government? It is tax time in the USA. Should we pay taxes? Right now it is too late to ask that question because the IRS will come after you. The question is, “Should we cheat on our taxes?” This is where the rubber meets the road. The temptations are great; but let’s “render to Caesar the things that are Caesars”. There is great temptation for people to lie on their tax returns claiming donations that were never made to charity. Can we repent and stop it? May God help us! Amen.
5. We have other responsibilities besides paying taxes. 1 Peter 2: 13-17, “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king”. We are to obey the law of the land, and honor the president or king and all in authority. There are great blessings we miss when we do not submit to the authorities God have placed over us whether it is at home, work, school or society. Did you know it is the “will of God” that we submit and honor our presidents? Stop praying for God’s will, here is a clear one to obey. We can equally run for political office. It is God’s will too. Why not?
6. We are to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2: 1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. Let’s commit to praying for our leaders now and in the future. Let’s take our case of injustice and wrong decisions by our leaders to God who can use all things for His glory. No bad-mouthing please. Silence is better.
7. Let us pray. “Lord, we repent of sins of bad-mouthing our presidents and leaders. We ask for your forgiveness. We thank you for all governments and all rulers. We thank you for President George W. Bush for how you have been with him during these 8 years. We pray your blessings on him and his family for their service to the nation. Lord we thank you for the President –elect Barack Obama and his family. You have lifted him from nowhere to rule this nation at this time. May your grace and mercy be sufficient for him. Lord, grant President Obama wisdom and discernment to make the right decisions. We also pray your protection on him and his family and ask that enemies of progress will not snuff his life out. Lord, give your angels charge over him so that he will rule with your fear and that this nation will turn its heart to you. Amen.”
Congratulations, President Barack Obama!
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