I’m writing this devotion on the morning of election day so you, dear reader, know much more than I do in this moment. That being said, when I awoke with the sunrise today, I was remembering pieces of a sermon that I preached on the Sunday following the last presidential election. After the coffee kicked in, I dug into my files and found the words that I preached four years ago.
I spoke of two realities that were true, regardless of the outcome of the election. First, would be that the country would have a new president, no matter who was elected. That we were participants in a democratic process was a gift in and of itself and, like it or not, we were once again bound to one another in a system of government that created opportunities for us to live out our God-given callings in relationship to one another, no matter who had won the day.
Secondly, and certainly more importantly, especially on the days after election day, we need to remember that God is still God. Here’s what I said,
“Even faithful people need to be reminded that there is nothing more important, nothing more life-giving, nothing more capable of salvation than the love of God. If we think that the results of this presidential election could somehow outperform the love of God, then we should spend some time exploring where our faith is rooted.”
These words are still true and, I believe, still need to guide our way. Regardless of what your experience of the past four years has been and regardless of what you expect the next four years to bring about, God is still God. And God will remain steadfast to a vision that supersedes anything you or I or any political leader might suggest as more worthy of our attention or effort in the days ahead.
Even though I have written this long before you will read it, I am confident that God’s promises remain for us all. Just as the sun has risen today, trust that God’s vision for this world has not changed. Know that God’s love for you has not diminished and that the work we now share, to make this love known to all, is as important as it has ever been.
May peace come to you. -Pastor Peter