Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is of course a very famous verse, quoted and sung every year at Christmas, at least. However, it is worthy of our thought and meditation. In the first place, it specifies a son; no “gender confusion” here! In the second place, the word, government, is very meaningful in this time of a major election. The Japanese term used here doesn’t mean the organization, but rather, ruling authority. That’s something we’ve got to remember. There are some pretty horrible governments in nations around the world, with dictatorships and corruption and all sorts of mess. However, it is Christ who has the ruling authority; all the others are shadows or are downright illegitimate. And then it goes into the wonderful descriptive names. Who could not love such a One as that? However, for those who don’t want to cede ruling authority to Christ, those names seem meaningless. It’s all a question of whether we will submit to Him, to act as His agents rather than running off on our own. All the wonderful things about Christ don’t apply for us as long as we are in rebellion. However, Jesus’ famous parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) is perfectly applicable here. The Father’s grace and mercy, His abundance, are always available to us, but we have to acknowledge our rebellion, our guilt, our need, and come to Him in genuine repentance. If we will do that, then we will find Christ is all the things listed here, and more.

In my youth I was never much interested in politics, but particularly after 50 that interest has grown. In just over a week from right now the results will start coming in from the US election, and my anticipation is growing. However, I’ve got to keep remembering that the ruling authority is on Christ’s shoulders, and not on any other. We do live in political systems, and Paul certainly admonishes us to pray for our rulers, (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and I think that applies to those who want to be rulers as well. Paul’s world was far from a constitutional republic, but that makes no difference when we remember that “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) is Christ’s. We have the privilege of participating in our own government, and we should never take that lightly. Failing to vote is a sinful rejection of responsibility. I am not to be anxious but I am to pray, both for the candidates and for those who will vote for them. I am particularly to pray that those who claim to follow Christ would wake up, get up, and go to the polls, as stewards of the privilege and responsibility they have been given as citizens.

Father, I easily get pretty worked up over this, to the point that I have to avoid the subject in talking with some people. Help me trust You fully, remembering where the authority is and praying as Jesus taught us, for Your will to be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!