Leader: As we forge ahead in the
coming year to make decisions which will impact our country for years to come,
let us remember the many blessings our God has bestowed on our nation.
All: Just as God brought forth
a great nation from Abraham, he continues to grace our nation today. He blesses us so that we may be a blessing.1
Great is thy faithfulness!
Leader: As Christians, we must
remember that secular government is authoritative according to the divine will
of God. Just as Jesus himself submitted
to Pontius Pilate and the Roman government, we must also submit ourselves to
the authority of those in power.
All: Let every soul be subject
to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and
the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore,
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who
resist will bring judgment on themselves.2 Let
us cling tightly to this divine truth in this election year.
Leader: Though
the election process can bring great strife and division amongst the citizens
of our nation, we must strive for unity with all fellow believers regardless of
where they fall on the political spectrum. For by virtue of our Baptism, we now
belong to the mystical body of Christ.
All: There
is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It
is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy
Spirit. And so, we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were
Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to
drink. So, the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.3
Let this spirit of unity be pervasive in our mindset and grant to us charity in
all interactions.
Leader: Let us remember that
regardless of the result of this year’s election, God is still in control of
all aspects of the universe. Nothing
that happens is outside the divine providence of God. Let us not become weary
of the temporal state of affairs in our nation, but always keep our eyes on the
eternal kingdom of God.
All: But according to his
promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness
dwells and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. We
anticipate a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.4
Leader: In the midst of this
election season, we ask that God would draw us into a closer relationship with
Him. May the tumultuous state of our country ultimately point us back to our
need for a Savior. Let our relationship with God persevere through the gifts of Word and Sacrament.
All: Lord, hear our prayer!
Scripture References
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