Transfer of Power
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
This week much of the United States and many from around the world witnessed the 60th peaceful transfer of power from one president to another.
It is a much-anticipated event for many people. For others it’s a dreaded event. It depends on your political views. Either way, it is something that brings many diverse people together with some widely varied views on multiple topics in order to carry out the will of the voters here in the United States.
As Christians, we have a biblical mandate to pray for our leaders even when we disagree with them.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
The transfer of power has happened. We don’t know what the next few years will bring. We can, however, be faithful in praying for those in power that they will be in tune with God as they make decisions.
There is another transfer of power that can and should happen as well.
It is the transfer of power to God who wants each and every one of us to live a life with Him. Luke 11 tells us to ask for the good gift of the Holy Spirit and that gift will be given. That gift was given in a powerful way to the early disciples as they went all over the world sharing the good news of Jesus. That same power and gift of the Holy Spirit is available to us as well.
Ellen White wrote,
The Lord did not lock the reservoir of heaven after pouring His Spirit upon the early disciples. We, also, may receive of the fullness of His blessing. Heaven is full of the treasures of His grace, and those who come to God in faith may claim all that He has promised. If we do not have His power, it is of our spiritual lethargy, our indifference, our indolence.
This transfer of power is something that God wants to give. He longs to give it. Let us unite this year as followers of Jesus and ask for this transfer of power so that we can fully represent Jesus in our lives and make a difference in our communities.