Barack Obama has been elected president of the United States. I listened with interest as John McCain made his concession speech. I thought it was one of his best speeches. He congratulated and vowed to support Obama as President, which is exactly what God expects me to do as a Christian While Obama was not my choice, he will be my President. Some of the most faithful Christians voted for Obama. Others voted for McCain. and Obama won. Some think it is a time of reckoning. Others think it is a time of renewal. Some think it is the end is near. Others think it is a new beginning. Some think it is the worse thing that has ever happened in this country, while some think it is one of the best. I honor the office, I love the country, and I support both.  And while God has not told me specifically how to vote, or who to vote for, He does tell me specifically how I am to treat the Rulers who have been elected, including those I do not necessarily want, vote for, or approve of. I will observe what God has instructed me to do. And what is that? I am to pay. I am to pray. I will be careful what I say.  

First, I need to PAY honor due to my President. In I Peter 2:17 I am told to “Honor the king”. Notice he did not say for me to only honor the king I voted for, approve of, or endorse. Peter surely did not agree with Caesar on Emperor-worship, persecuting Christians, and other issues of the day, but he still said, “Honor the king”. In Matthew gospel 22:21 the Lord Himself said: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. Jesus surely did not endorse all that the Caesars believed and practiced, but He still said to render to them what is due. I will honor Barack Obama as my President because of what he is, and not necessarily what he believes or what he does.  

Second, I am to PRAY for our President. In I Timothy 2:1-3 the Bible says that I am to “first of all” (which surely indicates a degree of importance) pray for “all that are in authority” and he mentions specifically “kings”, which would surely include our Presidents. I need to pray for Obama’s safety and for the safety of his family. I need to pray for his decisions. He is going to make some major decisions concerning who is going to help him run the country and which direction the country is going for the next four years. I need to pray he will seek God’s council on all matters and that God will guide him as our President and the leader of this country. 

Third, I will be careful WHAT I SAY. Like all other Presidents before him, Barack Obama will receive plenty of criticism. I have already heard some people call Obama the “Antichrist”, a “Muslim” the “beast or 666” (all of which he denies), and a host of other names that do not apply to him. But I need to be careful about what I say about our rulers. Paul apologized for speaking out against the “High Priest” whom he called a “ruler” (Acts_23:5). Jude rebuked those who “reject authority and speak evil of dignitaries” (Jude 8). And then Jude referred to Michael, the archangel, when disputing with the devil about the body of Moses “dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said ‘The Lord rebuke (will punish) you” (Jude 9). I may not know all of what that means, but it seems to indicate that I need to be careful what I say about those in authority. It seems to indicate that my response should be that I rely more on the Lord to take care of these situations rather than do it myself. The Bible clearly teaches that “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will..” (Dan. 4:17). It teaches that “Heaven rules” (Dan. 4:26). And Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, learned (the hard way) that God “does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth” (Dan. 4:35). Jesus said to Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above” (John 19:11). Furthermore, the Bible says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water: He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1). We learn from Matthew 28:18 that Jesus said, “all authority has been given Me in heaven AND on earth.” We know He rains supreme in His heavenly kingdom (1Corinthians 15:24-28) “Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down (stamped out) all rule and all authority and all power. 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet.” 

From Matthew  28:18 we learn He has the final word concerning earthly kings and heavenly kingdoms as well. And to think that in Luke 4 Satan offered Jesus earthly power and authority yet the Father gave Him ALL power, in heaven AND on earth. Had Jesus accepted Satan’s offer He would have been cheated just as man is cheated when we make a pact with the devil. Jesus knew, as the Hebrew writer says of Moses, “ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater  than the treasures in Egypt” Hebrews 11:24-26 

If I believe the Bible, then I must believe that God either put Obama in office or He allowed us to put him in. Either way, God has something to do with Barack Obama becoming our President. Therefore, I need to be careful what I say about him. I will also pay, pray, and be careful what I say. Who knows? If I pray for him like I should, Barack Obama could be one of the best Presidents this country has ever had.  

Article borrowed and edited by Bill Watkins