Everyone
And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. —John 3:14 and 15
“At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away.”
Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador, delivered this quote in her March 6 press conference where she suspended her campaign in the race toward President of the United States.
Haley speaks politics, of course. I don’t.
However, I do lift this single sentence because Haley’s words of unity speak to how I live out my job and my passion (which are one), and that’s bringing people together.
Select verses in the Book of Revelation speaks of people who do—and do not—make it to heaven. The onus of deciding a heavenly or hell-bound future for anyone isn’t mine. But there is something I can decide, and that’s to lift up the Son of Man.
I align with John, the gospel writer, because in the face of countless divides of all kinds, there is something we Christians can do. And John is clear here. We are to lift up the Son of Man.
Will lifting up the Son of Man resolve all conflicts? Optimistically, I will answer yes. I answer this way because Jesus, the Son of Man, upheld his cause. He was clear when He said we are to love our enemies and those who persecute us. This is an impossibly tall order alone. But we are not alone. We have Christ. The Christ I know isn’t exclusive. The Christ I know (the One who died for the sins of the WORLD (not a select few) AND who went after lost sheep), is inclusive.
Let’s bring people together to share Jesus’ radical, inclusive, empowering, affirming, uplifting message. Let us make clear that love, specifically His love, is truly the only option to take.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, we have the opportunity to lift You up, especially during divides. As we raise (and praise) You, let Your love win not for some but all. Amen.
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