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This is an election
year. Each politician is only doing that which is politically
expedient. Vice-president Nixon recently said jokingly at
a football luncheon that he could not give his preference
of teams in the Rose Bowl Game because this is an election
year. Each office seeker is most careful to say or do nothing
that might offend the voters.
True Christians
are also office seekers. We seek not a temporal crown but
a place in God’s kingdom. All too often we say and do things
that offend others. In politics the ambitious are careful
not to hurt the friends of the politically powerful.
Jesus told us ”For whosoever shall give you a cup of water
to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I
say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” When we visit
the sick and the fatherless, we do it unto the Lord. When
the final returns come in on election night those elected
to high o%ce will be those who have pleased the most voters.
Jesus, in giving us a glimpse at the final returns in the
greatest election of all time when he chooses those to rule
the world with him, tells us that the righteous shall ask
him saying, ”Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?
or thirsty, and gave thee drink? . And the King shall answer
and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.”
As we go about
our daily tasks, we should look at those around us as the
professional politician would view them. He tries to know
the needs of his constituents and do those things that will
please them.
When we come to think about it, the only thing we can do for
the Lord is to be kind to some of his other children. There
is nothing we can do for Him directly, but inasmuch as we
do it unto the least of his brethren, we do it unto him.
We would certainly treat the Lord with love and kindness if
he were here. There would be no trouble finding time to go
and visit him if he were sick or in prison, but we are all
too often so busy that we do not go and visit his brethren
when they are sick and in prison.
The politician does many things that may be unpleasant. He
kisses babies and shakes many hands and visits the slums because
this makes others happy and in turn he achieves his goal.
Our goal cannot
be compared to any office to which men may be elected. To
be kings and priests and reign with Christ is beyond comparison
and yet we avoid doing those things that, while perhaps distasteful
to us, bring pleasure to others. There are certainly more
pleasant places to go than the sick room or the cold drab
prison but if that is where Christ’s brethren are, then we
should be at their side.
Jesus said, ”I seek not mine own will, but the will of the
Father which hath sent me.” This must be our platform also.
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