Trust Only Jesus

Meditation

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

(Psalm 146:3)

Should we have faith in the current or future leaders of our country to solve any real problems? Like lasting peace in the Middle East or with our other global adversaries? Will they be able to permanently solve global hunger or devastating famine and poverty. Of course not. During every political campaign season since the beginning of political campaigns, we have been willing to believe the promises of the candidates. We have faith they will do what they promise us they will do. However, we usually find out they were telling us what we wanted to hear, just to get elected. It’s not a new phenomenon. People throughout history have hoped for the peace and prosperity offered by a smooth talking, charismatic leader. We fall for them all the time.

It’s not just the American people who make this mistake. The emperors, princes and dictators who promise their people riches if they just follow them deliver only misery, despair, war, and poverty. Those smooth talking, charismatic leaders will eventually die, or be removed from power, with their promises unfulfilled. If we look back at the promises of the Caesars, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, we can see how they were greatly admired by their people, to the point of worship. What did that get them? Nothing but misery, despair, famine, and death. They put their faith a prince who could only promise but not deliver.

Jesus was born of a woman. He is called the Son of Man, but he is also the Son of God, fully man and fully God. He doesn’t promise us if we submit to his lordship, everything will come up roses for us. No, he promises the exact opposite. He promises he will remember us before the Father in heaven. In other words, the offer of salvation is for eternity. We have only one prince we can count on, the Prince of Peace! He is the only one who can provide for our needs. He is the only one who can heal us of our afflictions. He is the only one who can give us inner peace beyond understanding. Finally, he is the only one who will bring peace to the whole world. We must remember that we are only temporary residents of this world and our true citizenship is in heaven. Let’s keep our faith in and focus on the One who has shown us the way there!

Prayer Time

Father God there is nothing we need that you will withhold from us. You give each breath, each heartbeat, and our ability to think of ways to provide for our own needs and wants. Please be with us as we try to wade through the craziness we call the world. We live in a very fractured society these days, in every part of the world, Lord, where many different voices are promising deliverance from the perceived evils from some other point of view or opinion. Give us the ability to see through the promises from mere men, who have only the power that you allow. Father, if it’s your will, pull us back from the brink of this political, social, racial, or economic divide we find ourselves in. Without your direct intervention, Lord, we fear violence on a scale we’ve not experienced before. Help our leaders and the populations they lead, to seek you face. For those who are followers of Jesus, help them to try and become the peacemakers, to bring to various sides together. If this is all part of your perfect plan to begin to pour out your wrath, so be it, and come quickly, Lord Jesus. You are the Prince we follow. In his wonderful name, we pray. Amen!