(NOTE: This article appeared and reflects opinions expressed on the day of the Trump Inauguration on Friday, January 20, 2017)
What a historic day in America. Today the inauguration of Donald J. Trump was bathed in prayer! And in his inauguration speech, the new chief executive called on God to protect us.
On January 20, Donald Trump, with his hand upon the Holy Bible, repeated this solemn oath: “I, Donald J. Trump, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”
When President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in this Friday as our nation’s 45th president, he will stand in front of the U.S. Capitol and place his hand on two Bibles: One that was used for Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861, the other a gift from Trump’s mother when he graduated at age 9 from Sunday school at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, New York.
A few days ago, I was driving from my home in Georgia to a church in Alabama to preach for five days. I didn’t think the predicted “snowpocalypse” would hinder my trip until I arrived in the town of Anniston—where state troopers had blocked the main road due to ice on bridges.
The 2016 election shined a glaring light on a divided America. According to a November 21, 2016 Gallup poll, a record-high 77% of Americans believe the country is split over important values, while 21% see America as united. Americans are also split on whether President-elect Donald Trump can unite the country with 45% stating they believe he will and 49% believing he will further divide it.
The last words the apostle Peter wrote in the Bible are priceless. He said: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and forever. Amen. -MEV). Peter’s plea to the first disciples still screams out to us today: “Grow!”
