PLUS

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.

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

President Lincoln, like Washington, had a strong Christian testimony.  The following thoughts, in Lincoln’s own words, discusses the moment of his salvation:

“When I left Springfield I asked people to pray for me.  I was not a Christian.  What I buried my son, the severest trial of my life in 1862, I was not a Christian.  But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.”

Armed with the knowledge of our salvation, we must take up our cross and follow Christ.  Our consecration in Him must motivate us.  It must compel us.  It must convict us.  It must encourage us.  It must challenge us.  It must correct us.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A POWER THROUGH OUR CONSECRATION THAT ENABLES US TO TAKE A STAND FOR CHRIST.  Lincoln’s testimony prodded him to serve Christ.  Our testimony should prompt us to do the same.

Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

George Washington reminds us of the following:  “Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do, then do it with all of your strength.”

God wants us to prayerfully seek out His will for every part of our lives.  He wants us to determine His will for the big decisions and the small decisions as well.  He wants us to humbly and prayerfully come to Him to glean what we are to do as we face dozens of decisions daily that will reveal our priorities, create our routines, and shape our lives.

Once we discern God’s direction, then we are to doggedly do it.  If it is God’s will, then we should surrender to serve Him with all of our energy, strength, and skill.  God wants us to demonstrate our faithfulness and showcase our testimony by pursuing his desires with passion, dedication, and expertise.

Throughout his public life, Washington put this admonition into action.  Though a reluctant General in the Revolutionary cause, Washington recognized his calling and pursued it heartily.  Again, though a reluctant draftee as our nation’s first president, Washington acknowledged God’s direction and put his hand to the plough without looking back.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO DISCERN GOD’S DIRECTION AND TO FOLLOW IT HEARTILY.  Let us put our hands to the plough without looking back to till the fields in this land.

John 3:31 “He that cometh from above is above all:  he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth:  he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

On May 12, 1779, General Washington met with the Chiefs of the Delaware Indians.  Washington praised their support and friendship, and began with the following words of appreciation:

“The Delaware Nation have shown their good will to the United States. They have done wisely and I hope they will never repent. I rejoice in the new assurances you give of their friendship.”

General Washington then went on to stress these important points:

“Brothers:

I am glad you have brought three of the Children of your principal Chiefs to be educated with us. I am sure Congress will open the Arms of love to them, and will look upon them as their own Children, and will have them educated accordingly.

This is a great mark of your confidence and of your desire to preserve the friendship between the Two Nations to the end of time, and to become One people with your Brethen of the United States. My ears hear with pleasure the other matters you mention. Congress will be glad to hear them too.

You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and ‘above all,’ the religion of Jesus Christ.

These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD FAITHFULLY SPREAD THE RELIGION OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS LAND.  To these allies of the American cause, Washington did not waste the opportunity to stress upon them the importance of the truths of Christ.  These truths would make them a greater and happier people than they were without Christ.  The same is true of those in our nation today.