Heated Politics

09 / Sun  | ReadPsalm 27:1-5

Overview: How do you respond when political debate gets heated and you’re tempted to treat someone as less than a human, label them by their politics, and thus justify your anger and your un-Christlike response?

10 / Mon – No, I’m right and you are wrong  |  Read Proverbs 21:2 (NKJV)

If you want to get into a heated argument, bring up politics. Everyone has an opinion, and many feel it is their duty to persuade anyone who differs just how wrong they are. Sadly, relationships can be damaged or even destroyed over who to vote for. Even sadder is when Christians act as though their candidate is the savior we have all been waiting for. Do they forget that God is Lord over everyone, even those in leadership (Prov 21:1 NKJV). His plans will never be thwarted. So investigate for yourself, vote your conscience, and then, no matter the outcome, trust God.

11 / Tue – Don’t be a scoffer  |  Read 2 Peter 3:3-13

The kind of person you become will last far beyond your lifetime. The attitudes you foster, the self-control you develop, and the more you think like Jesus, the better you can assess which things or people to pour yourself into. Other than God’s word, relationships are the only things that will last forever. Every personal interaction has the potential to move others closer to God or push them farther away. Even when nothing seems to change, will you be patient? God is because He’s not willing that anyone should perish. Is that your desire, too?

12 / Wed – Using words to manipulate  |  Read Psalm 19:14

The past journalistic standard was to report the facts and let readers or listeners come to their own conclusions. Today, some media writers are guilty of using certain descriptive words to lead their audience to a specific conclusion. Here’s an example. Fact: A dog bit a child. One reporter: The frightened pup nipped at the boy chasing him. Another reporter: The vicious dog attacked an innocent nearby child. Different words affect your understanding, so you may want to closely examine what’s being said. Read multiple sources, investigate, then decide. And please, watch your own words.

13 / Thu – True wisdom and humility go together   |  Read Proverbs 1:7 / Proverbs 1:5

Wise people are discerning. They are also humble and teachable. This proverb draws a comparison between the fool and the wise person. It is human nature to be overconfident about one’s depth of knowledge. Wisdom listens to differing perspectives to understand them. Humility allows you to admit when you find yourself in error. What subject tempts you to think you know more than anyone else? How does that affect your willingness to learn from others? How can these proverbs help you?

14 / Fri – Foundations are just the starting point  |  Read Matthew 7:24–27

What is your bedrock foundation? What truths are you basing your life on? Knowing what God says about a particular subject will be useless unless you learn to apply it to specific situations. That is very important, but even when you have a solid foundation, sometimes the walls may lean the wrong way. A plumb line (a gravity-based, objective measuring tool) helps you see what needs to be corrected. What are you using for your plump line?

15 / Sat – Good advisers  |  Read Proverbs 11:14

What applies to nations can also be applied to your life. Do you have good advisers? Wise people with whom you can discuss thorny issues, and they’ll avoid trying to sway you one way or another? Don’t just listen to those who agree with you. Honestly, try to understand those who have a different opinion so you can accurately compare. As one wise dad told his children, the real truth is generally somewhere in the middle between both extremes.