Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:4-5
Glorious Triune God, lately my attitude about the American political process has been brewing and spewing a cesspool of irritation and cynicism… a sure indication that I need the gospel to settle and center me. So I begin this day reminding myself of exactly who you are, and as I do, I’m going to deeply inhale the rarefied air of heaven, which constantly exudes the grace and peace I desperately need. I do my best repenting by remembering who you are. So as I pray this Scripture, restore me to gospel-sanity.
Sovereign Father, I’m greatly encouraged to remember that you are timeless in your engagement with your creation and your people. You always have been… you presently are… and you always will be the God who is working all things together after the counsel of your will. This very Labor Day morning, you are working in all things for the good of your people. You never need a holiday, you never suffer from ADD, and you always bring your “A game.”
God the Holy Spirit, in your seven-fold perfection, you irrepressibly execute the will of the Father concerning all things… from feeding sparrows and clothing flowers… to revealing and applying the grace of Jesus… to raising up kings and putting kings down at the Father’s bidding. Nothing and no one can resist you.
Lord Jesus, you are the faithful witness who reveals everything we need to know about all things. You’ve never lied, exaggerated or withheld any revelation we need about anything. You are the firstborn from among the dead. Your death and resurrection are the guarantee and the firstfruits of the whole new creation order. Because you were raised from the dead, all who trust in you will be raised, and the entire cosmos will be restored and brought to a grandeur of which the Garden of Eden was just a hint.
King Jesus, you are the ruler of the kings of the earth. Forgive me when I pine and whine about who’s sitting in the biggest chair in the White House… or the Kremlin, or in North Korea, or in China, or in Afghanistan, or in Israel. The good news of your present and future reign should free us from all panic and paranoia. It should also free us from all passivity and presumption. Show us… show me how to live as a good citizen of heaven and America. May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. So very Amen, we pray, in your glorious and gracious name.
