On Saturday, former President Trump survived the closest assassination attempt on a U.S. president since Reagan was shot in 1981. A bullet grazed his ear, and he is a bit bruised from being “covered” by Secret Service agents protecting him with their OWN lives, but he’s otherwise fine and looking forward to the Republican Convention that starts tonight. Sadly, a 50-year-old former volunteer fire chief attending the rally was fatally shot as he “covered” his wife and 2 daughters from the bullets coming in their direction. Two other innocent people were also critically wounded before a Secret Service sniper shot and killed the shooter.
There has been a lot of speculation about why the 20-year-old assassin did what he did and how he got on a rooftop within sniper distance of the former President, and there will be a lot of eyes on the process of answering that question. But as Christians, I think we need to keep our eyes on JESUS! There is so much political conflict in our country today, there is such a battle between the right and the left! The ability to have natural and normal conversations with people who have different opinions than we have has become a thing of the past because the LOUD voices on the left and the right have hijacked our ability to have intelligent and healthy conversations!
We all encounter various battles in life, you might be in a battle right now: maybe you’re at odds with a family member or friend, things are difficult with a neighbor, or someone you love is struggling with a serious illness or addiction. But behind all the things that are happening on the surface: relational issues, daily trials, and struggles in our minds and emotions there is a very real spiritual battle taking place, but that battle is not against other people or even ourselves. Ephesians tells us who our real enemy is: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
What does this mean? I addressed this in-depth in the DEMONS to DISCIPLE message a few weeks ago (6/30/24 on Facebook), but it tells us we live in a fallen world! Some people will do bad things, NOT because they’re Republicans or Democrats, but because sin is real, evil is real! So how do we keep our faith strong? How do we keep the armor of God strong around us? The Lord says: Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15:4-6. Joyce Meyer wrote: we are “everything-nothings” … we are everything with God but nothing without Him!
Let’s stay CONNECTED to the vine and leave the other battles to the Lord, but make no mistake: in the battle that matters … THE LAMB WINS!
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER: For our Country (#820)
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We
humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people
mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable
industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence,
discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil
way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the
multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with
the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority
of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that,
through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the
nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with
thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
