Living in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 6, 2014
Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:1-14
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’—Exodus 32:1
The Israelites in our scripture today were rudderless without a leader. Moses went up into the mountain and stayed longer than they had expected. In their impatience for someone or something to lead them, they built an idol. It is hard for us modern people to comprehend that anyone would think that a blob of metal shaped like a bull is anything more than a blob of metal even if it is made of gold. We should not be so quick to judge the Israelites for we do the same thing all the time, perhaps in a more sophisticated manner. We all want our cake and to eat it too. Campaign ads play into that reality.
It is election season and we are once again in search of leaders to represent us at various levels of governance. We need to keep this scripture in mind as we search for the right people to select. While their future actions will impact us, more importantly those actions will impact our children and they don’t get a vote. First, I want to encourage everyone to vote, most don’t anymore. Second, please take the time to find out from reliable sources where the various candidates stand on issues that matter and what their track records have been. I appreciate TV stations providing public forums like debates for the exchange of information. Third, I like the law that requires candidates to say or write I approved this message in their campaign ads, but have you noticed those ads have become positive platitudes. The dirty work is being done by outside groups. Personally, when I don’t hear that phrase, I tune out the ad. Fourth, I hear a lot of campaigns complaining about what other leaders are doing but I don’t hear very much about what the candidates would do themselves. My message to those candidate is that I will make up my own mind about others, tell me what you would do to solve the problems for which you are criticizing their actions.
Oklahoma Fact: In 2012, 19% of Children have one or more emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions*
Prayer: Forgive us when we turn away from you for leadership and guidance and search for other gods to solve our problems. Guide us in our quest for governance that is truly of the people by the people for the people. We pray for all who are running for office and ask that you guide them in their sharing of information with the public. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.