After all the commercials, mailings, calls, texts, and negative rhetoric the presidential election is over. This does not mean that everyone is happy with the results. As I am writing this, Arizona and Nevada are still counting votes, but Mr. Trump has 72,751,731 votes ( or 50.9% of votes cast), and Vice President Harris has 68,096,441  votes ( or 47.6% of the popular vote). As for the electoral votes which determine who the winner is, Mr. Trump currently has 295 and Vice President Harris has 226.  Because most (but not all) states have a winner-take-all process for securing electoral votes, the number does not truly reflect how close the race was in some states. For instance, in our state, Mr. Trump currently has 49.7% of the votes cast, while Vice President Harris has 48.8% with the margin being just under 30,000 votes. 

Our Lord Jesus once said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25) As emotions continue to run high, the evil one is working hard to sow the seeds of division even among God’s people. Brothers and sisters in Christ on both sides wonder how any true Christian could vote for one candidate or the other. Words are said or overheard, posts are made on social media, and assumptions are made that just because one professed Christian says this or that, every other Christian must think the same way. 

Quite frankly, in talking with many of you, I would suggest that the varying political opinions in our state are reflected among us in our Beautiful Savior family. What is more, many of us were very conflicted as to what to do in the voting booth due to there never being a perfect candidate or perfect party platform. And so we prayerfully made a personal decision, perhaps not 100% convinced that it was right.  

Conveniently, this weekend’s readings include Psalm 146:3, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” Read through 1 and 2 Kings to see plenty of examples of disastrous leaders the Lord allowed the people of Israel to have, as well as some very good ones. But through it all, the Lord kept His promise to send a Savior, not a national ruler, that we might be His people and live with Him in His kingdom now and forever. 

We continue to pray for our leaders, whoever they might be, that the Lord would work in them a true spirit of humble service and grant them His wisdom, and that He would use us to be true salt and light who emulate what it means to live together in peace and work for the common good despite our differing political opinions. We do our best to avoid being overly influenced by media spin about people, the truth of which we can rarely personally verify,  and rather be influenced by the Holy Spirit who would direct us to God’s truth in His Word and so grow in His love.