The special moment occurred during President Trump's State of The Union speech when he recognized the widow of fallen Navy Seal Ryan Owen. What a touching tribute memorializing the soldier and honoring him and his wife.
After the applause died down . . . and it took a while. A LONG while. Our president quoted Jesus.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
God insists that we take care of the widow and the orphan. He tells us to do so several times. James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17, 1 Timothy 5:3, Exodus 22:22, Psalm 68:5, - the list goes on and on. 2000 years ago the widow was without standing in society. She had no means of supporting herself and had to rely on the generosity of others. Read the Book of Ruth to learn more.
As I watched this young widow Tuesday night I couldn't help but feel compassion for her and her children. She had lost the man she loves and the father of her children. Her tears flowed freely. So did mine.
Yet, there are some people in this world born without compassion, or so it seems. They are so full of themselves and their own desires and aspirations that they can't see the truth when it is staring them right in the face. Some man tweeted about this grieving widow after Trump's speech, calling her "an idiot." He lost his job and rightly so. Maybe he'll learn. But this guy wasn't the only one in need of repentance.
This country's leaders are incredibly out of touch. They are so in love with their doctrine and their beliefs that they simply cannot fathom any other possibility besides their own. Does all this sound familiar? Open your Bibles to John 18.
The Jewish leaders of the day disagreed with the view of a certain prophet named Jesus. They arrested Him and turned Him over to the Romans for punishment (to be executed) because Jesus did not believe as they did. So who's right? And where do we find the truth?
"33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all." - John 18:33-38
Pilate was staring The Truth right in the face and he never saw it.
Earlier in Jesus' ministry He spoke these words to Thomas . . .
"6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
Thomas heard Jesus' voice and thereby learned the truth. Pilate did not.
We who call ourselves Christians should be responsive to the voice of our King. When He tells us to look after the widow and the orphan we should do as He commands us. There should be no doubt. NO hesitation. There should be no questioning or expressing "opinions." There should be no denying His command.
The world we live in has turned its back on the truth. It did 2,000 years ago and it continues to do so today. Look at this picture. It sure tells a sad story. Nearly everyone is standing and clapping. With the except ion of one guy on the right side of the aisle, all on that side are sitting, motionless.
The Supreme Court justices and military leaders excluded (they are to be impartial at these events), it is still obvious that some people just don't get what this president is saying. The same was true when Obama was president, only it was the other side of the aisle dissenting. These men and women are so full of their own version of the truth they refuse to acknowledge God's command about the widow.
"10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” - Mark 6:10-11
May we be more like Jesus in our relationships and in our speech. May our thoughts always be about others rather than ourselves. Maybe, if we become less, placing the needs of others above our own, we actually live out the Gospel instead of trying to ram it down the throats of those who don't believe as we do.
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