| Week 4 Day 1 |
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Citizenship We are blessed to have been placed in a free county. Our American system of democracy (a government of the people, by the people, and for the people) assures every Christian a voice in our nations affairs. God wants us to do His will in civil government, just as in the Church and in the home. Should a Christian participate in politics? Christians are a part of the political system. Being inactive and lethargic produces negative results for the moral state of our nation because it promotes the ascent and rule of evil (Psalm 125:3). By participating, we extend our Christian influence. Believers should assert their standards in organizations that are part of their daily lives (Genesis 41:33). Only righteousness will morally and spiritually render the kind of political decisions that are pleasing to God (Proverbs 14:34; 2 Chronicles 7:14). How Should Christians Participate Politically? PRAY… The first step to righteous citizenship is to ask the Lord to help you live a Godly life and introduce others to Christ. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Unrighteous administration is infectious (Proverbs 29:12). Pray that the Lord will remove evil and disobedient rulers from office, so that righteousness will reign. Pray that Godly men and women would be elected into every level of leadership so that our land will be healed (Psalm 33:12). REGISTER TO VOTE You cannot place your ballot unless you register to vote. Only then will you be in a position to help elect Godly officials (Proverbs 11:11). BE INFORMED An uninformed Believer is incapable of prevailing against the forces of evil in the world of politics. Knowledge is vitally important for effective action (Proverbs 14:18). Seek knowledge from Godly sources, such as Christian periodicals, newspaper, Christian Broadcasting Network news, or other knowledgeable Believers (Proverbs 15:22). CHOOSE GODLY PEOPLE Let God’s Word guide you in your decision. The Scriptures give the basic qualifications for a good candidate (Exodus 18:21). Candidates should possess:
Remember, decisions in this country are not made by the majority; they are made by the majority of those who vote. Principles are more important that party affiliation. Vote your convictions rather than for your party. It is a miscarriage of Christian stewardship to place confidence in unworthy candidates merely because of their political affiliation. Seek out the opinions of Christian ministries that support righteousness in civil government. Proverbs 29:2 A Walking Epistle Your Christian walk, outside the church walls, gives evidence of your personal, intimate, relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 3:7). “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men,†(2 Corinthians 3:2). Proper Christian conduct is explained in Titus chapter 2.
Older women should:
Young men should:
Employees should:
QUESTION: Read Proverbs 29:2. Why should we as Christians be involved in politics? APPLICATION: Does your character match up to that expected of you in the word? If not, what areas are the Holy Spirit convicting you? Pray for His power to overcome these. PRAYER: “Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for the blessing of living in a country where I can make a difference with my vote. Please help me to faithfully and knowledgeably vote with guidance of Holy Spirit. Thank you for the benefits there are of living your way. I pray that you would perfect the character of Christ in my life.†|