~ "American Christian..."

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.  (Mark 3:11-12)

First, let me begin by stating that although the title of today's devotion is directed at American Christians, the message transcends the United States and applies to all people of all countries.  God is everywhere!  

I dabbled in politics long enough to know that it was not for me.  There are very few honest politicians in our country.  They can be ruthless and they lie - plain and simple.  I had the distinct privilege of campaigning against an honest incumbent (who did win his election - thank you, Jesus) and being drawn into the unethical and slanderous campaign of another incumbent (who lost her election, and with good cause).  People who do not keep company with God lie. Their goal is not for anything other than their own causes, their own wants, their own status, their own ideas.  They want what they want - not what God wants, not what the people want, not what is morally and ethically right.  

Jesus knew that the people were looking for a leader, a King for this world.  They thought the Messiah was to come to free them "literally" from the bonds of captivity (Roman Law) and that they would rise up in glory to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.  They could not have been further from the truth.  Jesus' role was to free all men from the bonds of captivity - the captivity of sin.  

Any victory in this world must begin with a victory in the hearts of the people.  Jesus wanted to teach the people about the true Messiah - the Messiah who came for all mankind.  He was not what they had been expecting.  Jesus' Kingdom does not with the overthrow of governments, but with the overthrow of sin in the hearts of the people!  Prayer plays a very important part in this victory!  Democrat, Republican, Independent - it doesn't matter - if God is not the center of their individual lives, if Jesus' death and resurrection means nothing to the individual, how then can they ever place anyone's interest other than their own first, for a true Christian, regardless of his or her political status, places God's laws, God's commands, God's love above everything and everyone else!

Pray for them that they may come to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit - that they may do what God is calling them to do - that they may stand up and be counted in the campaign that matters the most - the campaign against Satan and his army, which is marching arrogantly across this country.  Only through prayer can this enemy be bound. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G95gU8t8imY