PLUS

Philippians 2:15-16 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

A few weeks ago, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito made a chilling observation that has been demonstrated time and again in our nation in recent years: “A wind is picking up that is hostile to those with traditional moral beliefs.”  He went on to state that “we are likely to seep pitched battles in courts and Congress, state legislatures and town halls, but the most important fight is for the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans.”  Finally, he charged us all with an important challenge: “it is up to all of us to evangelize our fellow Americans about the issue of religious freedom.”

Alito’s comments aren’t a surprise to any of us.  They are, however, an important reminder about the importance of shining as lights in the world.  In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, we are to run our race well.  Regardless of the pitched battles that rage around us, we are to fight for the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans.  We are to evangelize for religious and spiritual freedom.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE STRENGTH TO RUN AND LABOUR WELL IN OUR DAY REGARDLESS OF THE HEADWINDS WE FACE.  The battle for the hearts and the minds of our fellow citizens is worth the investment of our evangelical fervor.

Matthew 22:36-40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works”

God calls for us to have an upward and outward focus.  He wants us to prioritize Him and others over ourselves.  He desires for us to be far less engulfed in our own issues, and far more considered with the things of God and the things of those around us.

I once heard a great explanation of humility: “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”  As Christians in a needy land, surrounded by those who are self-consumed, we must offer a distinct alternative.  We must heed God’s great commandments that will direct our gaze away from ourselves.  May this single change in our orientation attract a world that is wallowing in selfishness.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD THINK OF OURSELVES LESS, AND OF GOD AND OTHERS MORE.  Let us consider one another and look not on our own things.

Job 37:9-13 “Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.  By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.  Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth this bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.  He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.”

A few weeks ago, Washington DC faced a rare meteorological occurrence for this mid-Atlantic city – a tornado.  It was only the eighth tornado to strike our nation’s capital since 1814, when a tornado may have actually saved our nation.

August 25^th, 1814 was the day after British troops had entered the American capitol city to ransack it and burn it to ruin.  The fires were consuming the city and the British were consolidating their position.  Then, a miraculous turn of the weather produced a tornado (maybe a swarm of three tornados) that created havoc on the British forces, destroying artillery and crashing ships.  The British Commander reported that the storm killed more of his men than did the American defense against the invasion.  Strong rains quench the fires and saved the remainder of the city.  The weather drove the beleaguered British force from their positions, causing their occupation to last for a mere 26 hours.  President Madison returned to the city two days later.

The storm was described by a local resident as “a special interposition of Providence to drive our enemies from our city.”  Indeed, this special interposition did exactly that.

The same Lord of our forefathers continues to control the weather.  He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, of for mercy.  He controls everything else as well, and it is His special interposition that we must rely upon to return this nation to its foundation.

PLEASE HUMBLY RELY UPON THE BREATH OF GOD FOR A SPECIAL INTERPOSITION IN THIS LAND.  May His power cause our enemies to be driven from among us.

Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

President Lincoln called the Bible “the best gift God has given man.”  He went on to remind us that “but for it we could not know right from wrong.”  In fact, Lincoln kept four books on his desk in the White House:  the U.S. Constitution, a book of U.S. Statutes, a collection of Shakespeare’s works, and a King James version of the Bible.  He clearly recognized the importance of this “great book.”

Do Christians in 21^st Century America recognize the importance of this great book?  Do we recognize the scriptures as our guide for knowing right from wrong?  Do we embrace the best gift God has given man?  Do we uplift the Bible such that it guides our daily lives?  Do we esteem the words of God’s mouth more than our necessary food?

If not, then we are failing to embrace God’s perfect guide.  We are falling short of His perfect plan.  We are neglecting His best gift.  And, we are likely going back form the commandment of His lips.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD BE BIBLE-BASED IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.  May we avoid spiritual malnutrition by esteeming His words more than our necessary food.

II Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”

Speaking against the sin of a self-sufficient spirit, President Lincoln stated the following:

“I believe that – intoxicated with unbroken success – we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace – too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

“I’ve been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”

Our sufficiency is of God.  Lincoln knew it, and so must we.

Our societal shortcomings scream out the unlearned lessons of Lincoln’s Biblical humility.  May our unbroken successes stop intoxicating us.  May we always feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace.  May we cease being too proud to pray to the God that made us.  May we regularly be driven to our knees by the overwhelming conviction that we have nowhere else to go.  May we halt our thinking that grasps to any thing as of ourselves.  May we realize that our sufficiency is of God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THIS LAND.  The only sufficiency that matters is of God.