The last couple weeks in American politics have given us non-stop “breaking news.”  There was the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Trump, followed by the Republican National Convention, then President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race, after which came the swift ascent of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket.  All within a span of ten days!

Of course, the cable news channels love this—they live for these kinds of back-to-back, attention-grabbing events that can glue viewers to their screens (it generates a lot of ad revenue).

Now, without minimizing the importance of American politics, let me take this cultural moment as an opportunity to remind all who follow Jesus, all who pledge allegiance to Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to make sure your heart beats with his heart for the world.  Yes, he cares about specific countries, and clans, and tribes, and people groups, and individuals—all of them:  “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

And his work in our lives is to bring us more and more into conformity with the image of his Son (Romans 8:29)—to see us maturing in faith so that we share Jesus’ vision and passion:  Jesus who looked out upon the masses and told us to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).  Jesus who said that his good news would be proclaimed to all of the people groups on earth, “and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).  Jesus who reassured his followers that he would be with them—with us—to the end of the age FOR the great work of making disciples among all people groups (Matthew 28:18-20).

This is what God is up to right now:  planting and growing his global church.  So let’s make sure we don’t get engrossed in lesser things.  Rather, let’s make sure we’re known as people whose hearts beat for the grand cause of seeing all peoples praise Christ!