2 Chronicles 7:14
1 Timothy 2:1-6
I have seen several acts of courage over the past few weeks.
These acts have left me wondering what we are doing.
To back up a little, I have been discouraged the last few
times I have checked twitter. There are so
many hate storms. Ugly words. People trying to force their opinion.
In the end, who has the right opinion?
I have seen people tear each other apart - in the name of
the Lord. But I see no evidence of the Lord in their speech. Are we truly
seeking the Lord, the Bible or the truth before we utter a word?
I am not trying to leave myself out of this. I know I speak
before I think. But here is where I am coming from….
We are filled with a world of true problems. People dying. Homelessness.
Starvation. Slavery. Trafficking. And we choose to sit and write or speak mean,
ugly words about people. I have seen atrocious words spoken about good people
fighting the fight of truth in the faith. I have also seen things spoken about
those who haven’t earned the right for a kind word. But what are we supposed to
do as believers trying to show the light of Christ?
1. Humility. Who am I? Do I seek truth, or validity
from the world?
2. What does the word say? Am I seeking the Bible
on the issues I am complaining about?
3. Am I spending regular time with the Lord to be
in tune with Him?
To get to my point…
A little
over a week ago, I sat in the living room of a dear friend that was walking the
end of her road with cancer. This was a rough site to see. The room was also
filled with other close friends of mine – and hers. They had been taking turns
staying with her around the clock. These friends had walked good days with her
before the cancer – and were now walking these horrendous days of watching her
die. While we were there, she asked for songs to be sung… ‘I bowed on my Knees’,
and ‘I will not be shaken’. I watched these friends sing with quivering lips, a cappella, honoring a woman that loved the Lord. I watched hearts breaking. And I
knew – I was in the presence of courage. I saw courageous people giving of
themselves in the hardest of ways. I saw them trying to bring joy to a friend
that they would soon see no more.
On Sunday,
Joe showed me a video of another act of courage - a man of God praying for our
president. The president showed up unexpectedly at his church asking for
prayer. That man honored the president. He prayed for him, other leaders and
our country. He used 1 Tim. 2:1-6 as a frame of reference. This is what it
says.
A Call to Prayer
1 First of all, then,
I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on
behalf of all men,
2 For kings and all who are in authority, so that
we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior,
4
Who desires all men to be saved and to come to
the knowledge of the truth.
5
For there is one God, and on mediator also
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6
Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the
testimony given at the proper time.
I wonder – if we took what we think
are courageous words against people, politics, misunderstandings – and instead
gave all of our thoughts to God first, then prayed for our leaders. Would we
see change? I believe we would… Why? It is written…
2 Chronicles 7:14 (LEB) [then if]
my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and will pray and
will seek my face and will turn from their evil ways, then I myself shall hear
from the heavens and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
I believe we have to be humble
first. That is very hard, but if we can come humbly before the Lord and ask for
help, we will see it.
Can we choose to pray for our leaders?
Our churches? Our land? Could we courageously pray for God’s will instead of
what we think? I think it’s time for revival in the land. It starts with us.
Here is the video of the pastor, and
a letter to his church.
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