Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
Thought for the Day: The last 18 months or so have created an environment in which many enemies have been created. Political campaigns can become ugly and mean-spirited, and this tension always spills into the lives of individuals trying to live a peaceful existence. In the previous four presidential elections, I have offered the following sentiments—In winning or losing, be gracious. If your candidate wins, remember those times when you have been on the losing side. If your candidate loses, continue to believe in the democratic process. If your candidate wins, do not blindly follow this individual. Instead, be a voice of challenge when it is needed. If your candidate loses, do not blindly attack the one who wins. Instead, be a voice of prayer on behalf of the winning candidate. From the School Board to the Presidency, let those of us who believe in the power of reconciliation and healing be an agent of these God-revealed values wherever we might be.
Prayer: In all levels of leadership, O loving Lord, may your grace and understanding abound. May your living spirit continue to reach across every partisan division to bring humanity together. Amen.
