Luke 13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

It’s interesting how many parallels I see between the Bible and modern politics. Human nature hasn’t changed! Those who actually get good things done are opposed by those who just talk a lot. James’ letter comes to mind, where he stresses many times the difference between saying nice or expected things and actually doing what is right. A major factor in the opposition to Jesus was that those opposed to Him realized that the people were seeing through them, but in response, instead of correcting their own behavior, they sought to kill Jesus. Again, we see that played out on the national stage today. I would be the last person to claim that Donald Trump is a Christ figure, but Jesus did say that those who follow Him would encounter the same sort of opposition He did. (John 15:20) The reports I have read indicate Donald Trump had a powerful encounter with God at the time of his father’s death, and since then has been led into a clear-cut commitment to Jesus Christ. He has certainly been the most actively pro-life, pro-evangelical, pro-Israel president in my lifetime, which covers most of the period since WWII. His words can be all over the place at times, but his policies and his concrete actions infuriate his opposition while they delight those who see through the empty words of his opposition.

I find myself a little dismayed to have written something so political, but I strive to write what I receive. I am not to step on people’s toes deliberately, politically or otherwise, but I am not to draw back from speaking the truth in love, even when the subject seems political. For most of my life I have had very little interest in politics, but that has certainly changed over the past 20 years. I had previously seen the devil as operating mostly on a personal, individual level, but I now realize he does his damnedest to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) on the national and international level as well. I am to resist him whenever and however I encounter him! (James 4:7) In terms of America, because I am physically in Japan my activities are limited to prayer and the Internet, but I am to be faithful in whatever the Lord shows me to do. I am a man of words myself, but I must be careful that my words are followed through with action, both saying the right thing and doing the right thing.

Father, I don’t get a thrill out of political things, but I realize that You care about every facet of life, both for me and for everyone else. Thank You for the people who came to the gallery yesterday, and for those You will bring today. May my interaction with them, both in word and in deed, be exactly as You desire, so that they may be drawn to Christ for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!