Living Faith: Love Over Politics in Action

Devotional

Day 1: The Church's Spiritual Mission

The church's mission is fundamentally spiritual, not political. It is called to preach the gospel and share Jesus with others, as this is the true solution to the world's problems. The church should engage with the world through a spiritual lens, focusing on the transformative power of the gospel rather than getting entangled in political or social debates. This approach allows the church to address the root of worldly issues by pointing people to the love and redemption found in Christ. By prioritizing spiritual engagement, the church can effectively fulfill its mission and bring about lasting change. [10:48]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you focus more on spiritual solutions rather than political debates in your interactions this week?

Day 2: Love as the Core of Faith

Love is the deepest aspect of God, and it is tested in our interactions with others. This love is not merely a feeling but a call to action, especially when it is challenged. We are reminded to prioritize love and mercy over seeking validation for our personal beliefs. Jesus exemplified this by consistently pointing to a higher truth, emphasizing love and mercy over political alignment. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this love in our daily lives, allowing it to guide our actions and interactions with others. [18:30]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent interaction where you prioritized being right over being loving. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future?

Day 3: Building Bridges Through Love

Building relationships with those who hold different views is crucial to fulfilling our mission. Alienating individuals who need Jesus is a failure of our calling. Instead, we should strive to build bridges through love and understanding, just as Jesus did with the outcasts of society. This approach allows us to share the gospel effectively and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways. By maintaining relationships with those who differ from us, we can be a light in a divided world and bring others closer to Jesus. [39:03]

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Romans 15:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your life with whom you have a strained relationship due to differing views. What steps can you take to build a bridge of understanding and love with them this week?

Day 4: God's Truth Over Personal Opinions

Our opinions, political or otherwise, are secondary to God's truth. We are encouraged to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in all decisions, including voting, and to prioritize God's kingdom over earthly matters. Jesus faced a divided audience but consistently pointed to a higher truth, emphasizing love and mercy over political alignment. As believers, we are called to align our lives with God's truth, allowing it to guide our decisions and actions. By doing so, we can effectively reflect God's kingdom in our daily lives. [32:15]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you are facing where you need to seek God's truth over your own opinion? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this decision?

Day 5: Radical Love and Mercy

Jesus' example teaches us to love our enemies and do good to those who oppose us. This radical love is the foundation of our faith and the key to transforming the world. By loving our neighbors, even those with whom we disagree, we can be a light in a divided world. This love is not passive but active, calling us to engage with others in ways that reflect the love and mercy of Christ. As we navigate the complexities of our world, we are encouraged to embody this radical love in all our interactions. [47:31]

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone you consider an "enemy" or someone you struggle to love? What is one practical way you can show them love and mercy this week?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound call to live out our faith authentically, focusing on the essence of love and the importance of spiritual depth. We began by acknowledging that the church's role is not merely to address worldly issues through political or social lenses but to engage with the world spiritually. The core of our faith is rooted in love, which is the deepest aspect of God. This love is not just a feeling but a call to action, especially when it is tested. We are reminded that the church's mission is to preach the gospel and share Jesus with others, as this is the true solution to the world's problems.

We delved into the idea that our opinions, political or otherwise, are secondary to God's truth. Jesus himself faced a divided audience, with some expecting him to affirm their political views. However, he consistently pointed to a higher truth, emphasizing love and mercy over political alignment. This serves as a reminder that our focus should be on God's will rather than seeking validation for our personal beliefs.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of maintaining relationships with those who may hold different views. Alienating individuals who need Jesus is a failure of our mission. Instead, we should strive to build bridges through love and understanding, just as Jesus did with the outcasts of society. This approach allows us to share the gospel effectively and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways.

As we navigate the complexities of our world, we are encouraged to pray and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in all decisions, including voting. Our actions should reflect our faith, prioritizing God's kingdom over earthly matters. Ultimately, our responsibility is to love our neighbors, even those with whom we disagree, and to be a light in a divided world.

Key Takeaways

1. The church's mission is spiritual, not political. Our focus should be on preaching the gospel and sharing Jesus with others, as this is the true solution to the world's problems. [10:48]
2. Love is the deepest aspect of God, and it is tested in our interactions with others. We must prioritize love and mercy over seeking validation for our personal beliefs. [18:30]
3. Building relationships with those who hold different views is crucial. Alienating individuals who need Jesus is a failure of our mission. We should strive to build bridges through love and understanding. [39:03]
4. Our opinions are secondary to God's truth. We should seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in all decisions, including voting, and prioritize God's kingdom over earthly matters. [32:15]
5. Jesus' example teaches us to love our enemies and do good to those who oppose us. This radical love is the foundation of our faith and the key to transforming the world. [47:31]
** [47:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:37] - Introduction and Humor
[07:59] - The Role of the Church
[09:12] - The Depth of God's Love
[10:48] - Spiritual Solutions to Worldly Problems
[12:27] - The Futility of Political Rants
[13:39] - Maintaining Relationships
[14:29] - Jesus' Approach to Division
[16:11] - Love Amidst Political Tension
[18:30] - God's Opinion Over Ours
[19:21] - Jesus and the Outcasts
[21:07] - The Kingdom's Priority
[22:07] - The Eternal Perspective
[25:02] - The Importance of Voting
[32:15] - Following the Holy Spirit
[47:31] - Radical Love and Mercy

Sermon Clips

1) "The only way any of the world's problems get solved is they get solved spiritually. You want to change this world? Do you want to change this world? Then preach the gospel. Preach the gospel. Go out and share Jesus with your friends, neighbors." [11:40] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "If my liberal friends who need Jesus have chosen to ignore me, then I didn't do my job. Because the whole idea of love, joy, peace, long suffering is to continue those relationships while still preaching the truth. If we somehow have alienated individuals who need Jesus, we've blown it." [13:39] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "It doesn't matter what my opinion is. It doesn't. It doesn't matter what my opinion is. And it doesn't matter what your opinion is. In the long and short of life, in the reality of life, it does not matter what your opinion is. That's the feel-good sermon title of the year right there. This one's going to be titled, Peter. This one's going to be titled, Doesn't Matter What Your Opinion Is. What matters is what God's opinion is." [18:30] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "The people Jesus hung out with were the outcasts, the looked down upon by the holy people. Let me say that again. The people that Jesus hung out with were the people that everyone else said, they're sinners, they're horrible, they're terrible, they're vile, they're unlawful. And who did he hang out with? He hung out with them." [19:21] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "If Jesus was here right now, do you know what his sermon would be? It wouldn't be political. It'd be love. Love. Love. Love. I know, Pastor John, but our world, our country is in a mess. Of course it's in a mess." [25:02] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. We live in a country where you get the privilege to vote. There are countries that people have, people died here so they could vote. Vote. Pray. You know what's more important than voting? Praying." [26:49] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Are you willing to literally pray and say, okay, Lord, I'll vote for whoever you tell me to vote for. I will definitely do it. And then do it. Because that's what you need to do. That's how this should be done. What's Holy Ghost, you are Lord. Holy Ghost, who am I supposed to vote for? How am I supposed to vote this election? And then do that, whatever that is." [32:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "If you are a believer, if you have the spirit of God in you, you know that's evil. But here it goes back to, they wanted Jesus to affirm their belief. They wanted them to affirm. Instead of them just knowing what truth is and acting upon truth, they needed somebody else to affirm who they are." [29:00] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "But love your enemies and do good and lend expecting nothing in return. And your reward will be great. And you'll be sons of the Most High God. For He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Be merciful. Vote. But don't turn this into us against them. Because when you turn it into us against them, the kingdom suffers." [49:18] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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