Listed below are a handful of the "Latest News" articles listed today on foxnews.com:
New Details Emerge in Christmas Eve Massacre
Man Kicked, Beat Toddler Because He's 'Not a Morning Person'
Ex-Yankee Leyritz Arrested on DUI, Manslaughter...
Masked Men Steal $30G From New York Topless Bar
4 Michigan Cops Fired Over On-the-Job Sex With Dispatcher Scandal
Hate Crimes Rise 8 Percent 2005-06, FBI Says
This is what's going on in America, but I know you're not surprised. In fact, your heart may even have stirrings of indifference (afterall, this stuff goes on every day) or hints of condescension (hope that Ex-Yankee gets what he deserves). When sin is so commonplace it is easy to respond with "Hmmm, that's too bad" and go on our way.
You know Jonah...the prophet who ran away when God told him to preach repentance to the wicked city of Ninevah...he did so because of pride in his heart. Sure, he wanted God's mercy for himself...but God's judgment for the pagans. Take a moment and think about your own story of salvation. My guess is that Romans 2:4 ("the goodness of God leads you to repentance") could be the theme of your testimony. I know that for myself, in the midst of my rebellion against God, He showered me with undeserved mercy, tenderness, and love. How can I not desire the same for my countrymen? For my neighbors? For my family?
So where do we start in praying for a nation so steeped in sin? We start by praying for ourselves. Christians can look no different than the world. We can be sinful, self-righteous, and complacent in our faith. Jonah's commission to preach to Ninevah was a rebuke to Israel for their reluctance to bring Gentiles to the true God. As followers of Christ, we are called to be His light to a dark world, but we often respond with the reluctance of Jonah. So, as we consider the current state of America, may we be obedient to the command to pray for our countrymen and may we do so with God's mercy in our hearts.
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim 2:1-4
INTERCESSIONS:
This week let us pray that all Christians in America will
- "abstain from every form of evil" 1 Thess 5:22
- "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him..." Col 1:10a
- "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16
- humbly remember that it is "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" Eph 2:8-9
- be burdened to pray faithfully and obediently...to seek God, to confess our nation's sins, and to request the salvation of our nation - "The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.'" Zech 8:21
"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chron 7:14
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