Yesterday I headed into church, sang some lovely songs and then the congregation sat down as our Pastor stood up on the pulpit and spoke. 

He started off by saying,  "There is a word that scares people more than anything else right now and that is politics."  

Now I am not going to tell you what or who to support and neither did my pastor.  

2 Corinthians 2 14-16

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?

Don't you just love entering your house or bakery and smelling the delicious fragrance of cookies or bread?  The smell just lofts throughout the house.  That is how we should be with people.  We should have this unmistakable undeniable fragrance of Christ.  Everything you do should have the aroma of Christ.  So whatever you do, it is a direct relation to Jesus.

There are three ways that my pastor outlined to treat people well and treat them with love in these tumultuous times and to reflect Jesus.

Speak the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4: 15 

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head that is, Christ.

There is all this name calling and yelling at one another about disagreements and I would encourage you to not get caught up in this.  I'm not saying don't express your political opinions, I'm just saying to make your point without impaling the other person.  Don't ruin friendships because of politics, be nice, listen and remember that everyone is made in the image of God.  Every person matters because every person was made in the image of God.  No one political party has all of God's truth as their core values.  Remember to be nice, keep your tone calm and speak in gentleness and kindness. 

Embrace Humility 

Philippians 2:5-8

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!

Jesus made a way to God through humility.  He was treated horribly at times and he scarified himself, even though he had not sinned for us.  Isn't the least we can do to try to be humble to one another?  Follow Christ's lead and embrace humility.  Listen and be a good listener.  Stop characterizing the other side.  God has given you power, now what will you do with it? 

Prioritize Advancing God's Kingdom

Matthew 4:8-10 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  "All this I will give you,"  he said, "if you bow down and worship me."  Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only,'

Don't let politics become you obsession.  Focus instead on the kingdom.  Pray, just the doxology, 'your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.' 

Don't you ever give up loving and serving people.  I get it, it can be obnoxious and there are people who are hard to love, but you need to just try. 

So, what are you going to do this week to love and serve people?  Comment below! ~dancingbunny14