According as His divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness, through the knowledge
of Him that hath called us to glory
and virtue: whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world
through lust.
2Peter 1:3-4
Friday I did was not able to write my blog as I went to be at a rally for Trump who came to Redding and spoke to some 5,000 people. The airport where he spoke is only about 4 miles from my house and I wanted to personally hear and see the man who is a candidate to be the executive officer, the President, of the Untied States. I believe that as a citizen of the Untied States, also of Shasta County, Redding City, and the state of California, I have a responsibility to be involved as much as I can as my life, the life of my family, and friends and this nation as a whole depends upon me to be intentional about who governs this nation. This is the same goes every citizen of the United States, we all as citizens have this responsibility to ensure that this nation holds fast to the Constitution, to not be ruled or governed by those who have an ideology or philosophy that is contrary to this nation. This intentional effort in secular politics is the same intentional, in fact it is more important to be intentional to be an Authentic Christian and to ensure that those who teach doctrines that are contrary to Scripture are confronted, addressed, and are made noticeable for all Christians to see and avoid. We vote for our government leaders, and we also elect those who lead the Church and it is our responsibility to be involved in this process ensuring that the Gospel goes forth in all its purity and not by some heretical teaching.
Peter teaches us that God called us by His divine power to live a life of godliness and this by the knowledge of Him. It is God through Jesus Christ that gives to those who hear the call and respond to the call to live virtuous lives that are glorious according to Scripture. Secular candidates make promises and often those promises are never fulfilled, either by them making false promises or by others who "roadblock" the implementation of those promises. This is not true of God for when He makes a promises it is and will be fulfilled. This promise of God should bring joy to our hearts that He will fulfill it and this promises is that those adopted by Him will be partakers of the divine promise and that promise is everlasting life where there is not corruption. Now, in this life one who is an Authentic Christian can escape the lusts of this world and avoid its corruption and this enabling is done by your study and application of His word, His word that leads you to be virtuous.
To be intentional is to be one who is diligent and this is not some inherited trait that you have no control over for you are to add to your life: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to your virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (2Peter 1:5-7).
We do not know what is in the "playbook" of a politician, the President or Congressman, or any other person who has been elected to serve the people. We do know the "playbook" for an Authentic Christian as what is required and how we as a child of God are to live is in the His word inspired by Him for us to have what is His will for His children. A politician may make changes in his promises: God does not! We are a citizen of the United States but more than that we are also a citizen of the heavenly kingdom: now, not just in the future. This dual citizenship has requirements that are to be met. You may avoid them and with the secular requirements that you avoid and are not criminal you will not be judged by your apathy. This is not true with God for He will judge you apathy towards what He requires of you: "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Peter 1:8). The Greek word for "abound" means to have more than enough, to be full and by this to be active in the use of what you abound in and by this you will receive the glory of God now in this life and the life to come.
The choice is ours: we can be intentional in our life, to be active in our service to God and others, or we can choose to be apathetic which allow the corruption of this world, its lusts to fill the vacuum. Man may not judge you but God will for He has poured out His love to you and all you have to do is accept His love and apply it in your life. Will you?
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return
to the ground; on that very day their
plans come to nothing.
Psalm 146:3-4
Become intentional for Jesus Christ
Richard L. Crumb
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