The Greater Love

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

In the light of the example Jesus gave us at the cross, this is our daily duty – to lay down our lives, our preferences, our wills, in favor of those God gives us.  This is, Jesus tells us, the highest, mightiest, strongest, most powerful love.  It is this love that carries crosses, moves mountains, divides oceans, binds unseen wounds and heals pain that otherwise would never heal.  It is to this love we aspire. 

And it is this love we honor today.  It is this love that leaves behind one’s own dreams, loved ones, births and deaths, to serve, protect, run into harm’s way, fight the enemy even when the odds are down, conditions are at their worst and injuries are unbearable, and risk all to carry our banner.  All for the greater good and love of freedom. 

This love and duty to country has impassioned many to lay down their lives to buy the freedom of an entire nation, and this continued courage and sacrifice has kept us free for over 200 years.  Let us honor these brave men and women with our deep gratitude, but also by following their example of greater love.

When we live our lives with respect for one another, with words that build up and not tear down, with actions that better our own corner of this country, when we live not carelessly, but thoughtfully, we honor those who have fought so hard to make us free. 

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Galatians 5:13-14

May God fill you with strength and courage as you seek to live out His greater love.

 

 

Another Chance to Pray for Our Nation

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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer and we have another chance to collectively pray for our nation.  And boy do we need it.  It seems every day there is more news that our nation as a whole is moving further into darkness.  Right is called wrong and wrong is called right.

And instead of being a godly influence on the world around her, the church as a whole seems to have allowed itself to be molded by the world.

Jesus’ light is, of course, as bright as ever, but the light of the church has dimmed.

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship has been chosen to be this year’s Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer.  Not surprisingly, he has already encountered conflict as a gay and lesbian group has called for his removal from the position because of his godly stance on the truth in God’s Word on homosexuality.

Pastor Greg is refusing to step down, and that doesn’t surprise me.  In fact, I haven’t even heard him mention it.  He is moving full steam ahead in the strength and power of Christ as usual.  And he needs our prayers as he moves forward.  The country needs our prayers, and not just superficial prayers, but real repentence.

Humility isn’t a very popular thing anymore, but it’s what God calls us to.  And if we’re going to see ourselves, and as a result, our country be healed, we need to return to humility, get on our knees and pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

These are a few of the prayer needs I can think of.  If you can think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to post them.

1. Pray the Lord Jesus Christ will be held high and glorified as the only way, the only truth, the only life.

2. Pray that those who call themselves followers of Christ, especially those who have been called to lead, will hear from the Lord and repent of any ways in which they’ve turned away from God.  Pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for all of us that we may, above all, love one another, and live uncompromising and bold lives in our families, our neighborhoods, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and wherever God chooses to place us.

3. Pray for those who believe they are saved but are not and are instead living in a system of religion only or believing that being a “good” person will earn them a place in heaven.  Pray the Lord will open their eyes to see the truth that religion and good works cannot save.  That it is only through the forgiveness of our sins through the atonement of Christ’s shed blood that any of us can be saved.

4. Pray that as Pastor Greg prays on Thursday those who oppose the truth will feel God’s love (and ours) and His desire to come into the life of anyone who would repent and turn to Christ.

5. Pray the leaders of our nation will be convicted and will turn to Christ for salvation and begin to lead us in a godly way.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13

God bless you as you seek Him,