Author: John Page 46 of 163

I Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

At this point, we must all recognize that our nation is in a crisis and at a crossroads.  The events of this past week should shock and sadden all of us.  Yet, it is clear that the crisis didn’t start in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 when a crowd of lawless and violent thugs stormed the Capitol and threatened the core of our democracy.  It didn’t start in the Summer of 2020 when crowds of lawless and violent thugs stormed cities and created urban wastelands around the nation.  It didn’t start on Election Day of 2020.  It didn’t start on Election Day 2016, or 2012, or 2008.  The root cause is far more insidious than that, and it has yielded a spiritual, moral, societal, political, and social crisis that must be addressed.

If you have demonized the other side, even in the midst of an emotion-fraught week, then you are part of the problem.  If you have lionized your side, then you are part of the problem.  If you have excessively trusted in a human leader on either side of the political spectrum, then you are part of the problem.  If you have expected salvation from a political party, a government institution, or an election, then you are part of the problem.  If you have put your full faith in a statehouse, a courthouse, or a churchhouse, then you are part of the problem.  If you have outsourced your critical thinking to a media outlet, then you are part of the problem.  If you have surrendered your common sense to social media feeds and blog posts, then you are part of the problem.  If you have failed to try to understand the mindset of those who think differently than you, then you are part of the problem

If you have failed to faithfully and fervently pray daily for our nation and our leaders, then you are part of the problem.

We are all part of the problem!

It has been said, that “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”  Now is the time to stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution.  Prayer for our nation, perspective regarding the mindset of others, and passion for national healing must top the list of our solution set.  And, we must not wait!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

II Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Genesis 39:11-12 “And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”

II Samuel 11:2-3a “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.  And David sent and enquired after the woman.”

I recently came across this stunning though not surprising thought in the book Atomic Habits: “When scientists analyze people who appear to have tremendous self-control, it turns out those individuals aren’t all that different from those who are struggling.  Instead, ‘disciplined’ people are better at structuring their lives in a way that does not require willpower and self-control.  In other words, they spend less time in tempting situations.”

Discipline comes largely through structure and intentionality, not solely through some personally-manufactured willpower and self-control in the spur of the moment.  As soon as Joseph saw he was in a bad situation, he fled.  In contrast, when David saw he was in a tempting situation, he lingered.  In many ways, we are a product of our surroundings – those with whom we spend time and those things with which we surround ourselves. 

If you want to start a disciplined process in your life, schedule it and structure your life and your surroundings around it; linger on it.  If you want to eradicate an undisciplined process in your life, structure your life and your surroundings to avoid it; flee from it.  In these ways, we can better strive towards lives characterized by righteousness, faith, charity, and peace.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO EXPRESS DISCIPLINE BY STRUCTURING DISCIPLINE INTO OUR LIVES.  Tremendous self-control, for clinging to the good and avoiding the bad, comes largely through intentional structure designed to live life with a pure heart.

Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The world’s first text simply stated “Merry Christmas”.  The world’s first telegraph post transmitted a Bible message:

What Hath God Wrought I

What Hath God Wrought II

On Christmas Eve, 1906, the world’s first radio broadcast brought a Christmas program to ships at sea.  This revolutionary transmission passed on a hearty Christmas greeting, complete with a reading of the Bible and the playing of the classic “Oh Holy Night.”  Across the air waves, the magnificence of God’s Christmas message was transmitted to common voyagers in the Atlantic Ocean.  They received good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  They heard the life-changing, eternity-shaping, joy-filled message – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The glorious news was all about the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord!

On the first Christmas, the shepherds heard such a transmission too, meant for common voyagers like them.  It was passed on by a multitude of the heavenly host declaring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  It was a life-changing, eternity-shaping, joy-filled message – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The glorious news was all about the birth of a Saviour, Christ the Lord!

Regardless of the medium – text, telegraph, radio, or proclamation by a multitude of the heavenly host – the truth is life-changing, eternity-shaping, and joy-filled.  It is the entire reason for the Christmas season, and the entire rationale for the swelling joy in the heart of a Christian.  It is meant for common voyagers, just like us and those around us.  It is news that should cause us to rejoice and that we should retransmit. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO JOYFULLY PRAISE GOD FOR THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.  Christ the Lord – a message for common voyagers everywhere!

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Legendary test pilot Brigadier General Chuck Yeager passed away a few days ago at the age of 97.  General Yeager embodied and personified the characteristics of a fighter pilot, in all the good ways and in all the bad ways.  In his autobiography, “Yeager,” a coworker described it this way: “Fighter pilots are the most egotistical bunch in the business.  But flight test fighter pilots are a couple of orders of magnitude higher than that.”  Though Yeager didn’t particularly like the term ‘the right stuff’, he had it, either through experience or by birth.

Interestingly enough, Yeager didn’t start out with a life that telegraphed fame and glory.  In fact, as he entered military service slightly before the beginning of World War II, he questioned his own abilities to rise through the ranks because of his very humble West Virginian upbringing and notable lack of formal education.  He even got airsick on his first few flights, stumbling through the beginnings of his career.  Yet, he went on to break a slew of aviation records and became known as the quintessential test pilot and the first to exceed the speed of sound.   

Some of us may start out life with a humble upbringing.  Some of us may be concerned about our notable lack of formal education.  Some of us may stumble at the beginning, or even in the middle, of our careers.  Yet, it is amazing to consider what God may have in store for us.  After all, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.  He can do great and mighty things which we know not. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO LIVE TRUSTING GOD’S POWER TO OVERCOME ALL OF OUR INADEQUACIES.  While we may not live our lives beyond Mach 1 like Yeager did, we can still be used in ways we couldn’t even imagine.

II Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

In “The Back Channel”, Ambassador William Burns tells the following story:

“When I was a junior diplomat, George Shultz used to invite outbound U.S. ambassadors into his office for a farewell chat.  He would walk over to a large globe near his desk (which many years later I had in my own office as deputy secretary) and ask each ambassador to point to ‘your country.’  Invariably, the ambassador would put a finger on the country of her and his assignment.  Shultz would then gently move their finger across the globe to the United States – making the not-so-subtle point that diplomats should always remember who they represent and where they come from.  Not a bad lesson to reinforce today.”

Perspective is everything for ambassadors and diplomats.  While these professionals are immersed in a climate and culture of a foreign land, and strive to build relationships and develop mutual understanding with foreign officials, they are there for a very specific reason and purpose.  A diplomat must always be mindful that they serve and represent their homeland.  They are away from home to meet the objectives and goals of the place of their citizenship.  There will be opportunities in their efforts for pathways of mutual benefit, but the goals of their sending land should always reign supreme in their minds. 

We are ambassadors for Christ, and our perspective is critically important.  While we are immersed in a climate and culture of a foreign land, and strive to build relationships and develop mutual understanding with those around us, we are here for a very specific reason and purpose.  We must always be mindful that we serve and represent our homeland in heaven.  We are away from our heavenly home to meet the objectives and goals of the place of our citizenship.  There will be opportunities in our efforts for pathways of mutual benefit, but the goals of our sending land should always reign supreme in our minds. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO SET OUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE.  We must always remember who we represent and where we come from!