Verse of the Day 11/8

Psalm 121:8The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Today is election day in our country.  Many people have been looking forward to it about as much as someone looks forward to going to the dentist when they had  a toothache in the "old days", when you could expect pain.  You could live with the toothache or get it taken care of through short term pain.  Today's psalm begins with the statement " I will look to the hills, from where does my strength come from?  My strength comes from the Lord."  Many today will be going to their polling place to cast a vote, looking to Washington DC, the White House or to another hill, Capitol Hill for help in this life.  We, as Christians should realize that our help comes from God.

The divide and tension between the political parties has seldom, if ever, been greater.  People will be turning  today to Fox News or MSNBC for today's results hoping that their side will win while looking down on the other side, seeing them as "enemies".  It is not to be so with us.  John MacArthur writes, "When the church takes a stance that emphasizes political activism and social moralizing, it always diverts energy and resources away from evangelization. Such an antagonistic position toward the established secular culture invariably leads believers to feel hostile not only to unsaved government leaders with whom they disagree, but also antagonistic toward the unsaved residents of that culture—neighbors and fellow citizens they ought to love, pray for, and share the gospel with. To me it is unthinkable that we become enemies of the very people we seek to win to Christ, our potential brothers and sisters in the Lord.

As we head to the voting booth today, and we should; may our prayer be for others "the Lord keep your going out and coming in", calling on Him to direct our steps.  He is in control, as we go into and as we come out of the election booth,  He knows the outcome of this election and while we may not understand how, it does fit into His plan.  "He guards you now, He guards you always" (The Message).

For John MacArthur's complete article, go to: 

http://www.gracegems.org/08/10/politics.html

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Psalm 121The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song

121 ^1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

^3-4 He won't let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

^5-6 God's your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

^7-8 God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.