“And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels…” (Malachi 3:17)

Every year at this time I begin to look for the first hummingbirds of the season to arrive. The early arrivals generally make their appearance on my oldest son’s birthday, April 9^th. Sometimes a day early, sometimes a day late. Always weary and thirsty from their long journey. The red feeder with sweet nectar had been up a week.

This year, the big day came and went without a jeweled wing in sight. I watched for them with longing. I walked to the window time and again, at first with anticipation, and then with anxiety. I went out onto the porch and scanned the horizon. What could be keeping them?

I hung a new spring welcome flag and picked up some wayward trash from the yard. As I swept puffs of yellow pollen dust from the porch, I heard the familiar hum. I looked up with delight. Only a chubby bumble bee.

I went back into the house with a sigh. They’re going to make it. I’m sure of it. They know the way. Everything is prepared. They’re coming any time now. I’m sure of it.

Family members are filled with excitement. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation. One more time by the window. One more expectant glance.

I inhale a quick breath and let it out slowly. There at the feeder. A single traveler is home. She slipped in quietly. She made it safely. Sweet relief.

Celebration.

Once a year, on the Wednesday night before Easter, we always have Communion at our church. Our Communion set has forty small openings to hold forty small glass cups. For as long as we had pastored here, we had only ever had thirty-nine small cups to fill the forty small openings. One small cup had always been missing.  One small opening had always been vacant…until a few years ago.

One year our newly elected neighboring
pastor and friend called and asked if we might have a Communion set that his congregation could borrow. It worked out that we weren’t going to have Communion on the same night, so we were able to oblige him.

As I handed over the shiny set, I apologized for the missing cup. He assured me that it was no problem at all and that he was just thankful to have the set to use. Within the week, our Communion set was returned with much appreciation and we were happy to have been able to help.

I didn’t open the set right away. I just put it in the church kitchen until it was needed. It was a day or two later as I was going to fill the cups with grape juice for our own Communion service that I noticed it. All the openings were full. There were no missing cups. Our friend had filled the vacant hole with a small glass cup of his own.

I don’t know where he got it from. Perhaps he had some from a lost or damaged set and that’s why he needed to borrow ours. Perhaps he went to greater lengths to acquire the missing piece.

I do know how it made me feel, however.  When I saw that small cup, I felt like something had been made complete. Not just in the Communion set, but in me. Something was lost, and now it was found.  Something was broken, but now it was whole because someone had cared enough to fill a small, vacant space.

Communion is about remembering our Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for us.  His  sinless blood that was shed for our sins.  His body that was broken for us. The ceremony is beautiful and soul-stirring. Often, we forget what Jesus did next.

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded…If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” 

(John 13:4-5, 13-14)

As we await that Great Day of Jesus’ return for His Church, we are the Body of Christ in the earth.  When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, it was a reminder for us to humble ourselves and serve one another in love.  I wonder when was the last time we poured ourselves out for someone.  When was the last time we did something, perhaps seemingly small and insignificant, to fill a small vacancy in someone’s heart.

Once again, we had Communion Service at our church last night.  Just like every year at this time, when I opened the Communion set, I was reminded of the kindness of a fellow-laborer.

It was a small thing, really.  A small cup.  A small gift.  A small gesture.  A small hole that was now filled.

Our first grand baby arrived fourteen months ago. He has changed our family dynamics quite a bit. He keeps each of us hopping as he explores his big world and tries to learn his place in it.

As I watch all of the interactions, some overt and some subtle, I remember my mother-in-love saying, “Babies are good for a family. They bring new life to it.” I didn’t understand fully what she meant at the time, but for the last fourteen months, I have witnessed this to be true.

As a pastor’s wife, it has been interesting to notice that spiritual babies are good for a church family for these same reasons:

1. Babies bring fresh wonder. It’s not unusual for seasoned family members to become callous to the miraculous world around us. Babies compel us to look closer and remember. There are no average new experiences for them. Babies are amazed at every new sight, sound, smell, taste and texture. They cause us to see life through new eyes.
2. Babies bring energy. They keep us on our toes because they are always on the move. There is a comfortable season in a household when the youngest are grown, but haven’t left the nest. Everyone settles into a predictable routine. Enter baby. There is no time for “resting on our laurels” now.
3. Babies draw out our emotions. Families, both natural and church, are full of people, and people are full of issues. Shutting ourselves down from feeling is a self-preservation mechanism to keep from getting hurt. Babies remind us to feel again.
4. Babies cause us to interact with one another. They get our minds off of ourselves, and pull us out of our self-imposed isolation. Isn’t it amazing what noises and faces a baby can get an otherwise serious adult to make? No man is an island. Family interaction matters because relationships are the ties that bind one generation to the next.
5. Babies keep everyone involved. They make messes that they aren’t able to clean up, and every unlocked danger area in the house is exposed. It takes a body ministry to assure a baby’s comfort and protection.
6. Babies keep us learning. They want to touch. We say, “Hot!” They say, “Mine!” We say, “Share.” They ask, “Why?” We don’t want to be the one who can’t give them an answer. We are compelled to “study to show ourselves approved.” After all, babies are repositories of knowledge for future generations.
7. Babies remind us that God has a Master Plan for our lives. Who hasn’t been enthralled by counting ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes? What parent or grandparent hasn’t known for sure that their sweet angel is the most brilliant and gifted child who has ever lived?  How often have we cradled a sleeping baby in our arms and been reassured that God loves us just like that?

Yes, whether it is in the home or church, babies are definitely good for a family.

On the fourth day of the eleventh month, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and eight, Barak Hussein Obama began to reign over the United States of America. He continued to reign eight years until the eighth day of the eleventh month of the year of our Lord, two thousand and sixteen. He did that which was not right in the sight of the Lord… 

If we lived in Old Testament times, this is how our current situation in America would read. It is up to us to decide how the story will end.

Perhaps you flinched in your spirit when you read the word “reigned”. Here in “the home of the free,” we take offense at the notion of someone ruling or reigning over us. We are free, you say. We have a President elected by the people, you say. The title of the man in charge makes no difference in the spiritual realm. King. President. No difference.

I grew up in a political family and cared very little for it. Once I was born again and began to read the Bible, I realized that the Kingdom of God has a whole lot to do with politics. In fact, God is very actively involved in the politics of nations.

Daniel 2:21 declares, “…he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:…”

My heart is heavy over the upcoming presidential election. Why? Because God’s heart is heavy over it. People often ask, “Why does it matter whether the President is a Christian or not?” They say, “It’s a job. A person’s faith is a private thing and should be kept separate.”

However, we know that true faith affects every area of our lives, private and public. People make life decisions based on the values dictated by their faith. If they do not regard their faith in decision making, then theirs is no faith at all. It seems to me no better to have a leader who is willing to compromise his faith than to have a leader with no faith at all. 

Why would God concern Himself with who is the current leader of any nation?  From the beginning, it was God’s desire to be King over His people. There were anointed Prophets and Judges that the people could inquire of to find the word and will of God, but He alone wanted to reign over them. It was in the time of the Prophet, Samuel, that the Israelites decided they wanted an earthly king to rule over them “like all the nations.” Both Samuel and the Lord took this request as a personal rejection, however, God granted the people’s request, and Saul was anointed King of Israel.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:4-7)

The day that Saul was anointed King, God further expressed His heart to the people.

“…Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us…” (1 Samuel 10:18-19)

From that time to this, there have been kings that did right in God’s sight and king’s that did evil in God’s sight. If you read in the books of Kings and Chronicles, you will see that it was always recorded very precisely which way a king reigned. A king who was unrighteous, did not consult God’s will or wisdom, was selfish and cruel, only regarded his desires and quest for power, would eventually lead his people into idolatry. God would allow the wicked leader, as well as the whole nation, to be overtaken by its enemies.

A king who was righteous, consulted God for wisdom and direction, put away idolatry from the land, considered his people and made decisions for their good.  In return, God would deliver this righteous leader, as well as the whole nation, from its enemies. As went the ruler, so went the nation.

Here we are on the brink of perhaps the most important election in American history. With so much at stake, as Christians, we should be concerned and proactive in the election of our next King…I mean, President. Let’s not forget that the United States of America was founded on Christian principles, and this is why God’s hand of blessing has been upon her for these 240 years.

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)

When I look at the list of presidential candidates, I realize that no one person can right every wrong that plagues our great nation, even though there have been many campaign promises to that effect. Personally, I would rather have a leader that admits he needs help from his Creator, rather than one who brags that he can do it all without Him. God will step in and make up the difference for a president and a people who will humble themselves and seek Him for guidance.

I realize that the following scripture admonishes each individual to place themselves under the microscope of God’s word and will, making certain they have aligned their lives in obedience and full submission to Him. I think we should apply the same scrutiny to the calling and election of our next President.

  “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:10)