I have been overwhelmed this last week again with the news across the nation. I am astounded with the hatred and murder in our streets. I found myself getting very angry and confused at many levels. In my prayer time about this subject and in preparation for this reminder of our fasting and praying tomorrow I was sent by His Spirit to 1 John 4:7… and as I read I was reminded of the problem and it goes all the way back to the beginning and there is plenty of guilt to go around. It says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Amen! I did not witness a lot of love on the television lately. Remember the text from Revelation 3, the indictments against the various churches? The first one he described was Ephesus and He said they had left their first love…they like us were doing a great many things right and He listed them but then He said, “I have this against you, you have left your first love”. He warned them and us to get back on course, repent or lose your light..or risk becoming like the Nicolaitans, which He hated. Jesus once said that whoever does the will of My father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother, (Matt.12:46-50) and I admit that with that in my heart it becomes difficult to love those that would destroy others property and lives. As I mentioned last week, I lived through desegregation as a teenager and it left marks that I have repented of and try to live down, but it seems to me that this current situation is being driven by outside forces and using the racial divide to further divide the country for their gain at the expense of us all. I voted today and was excited to exercise my right to protest people and ideas that I think are wrong, I did so peaceably and I thank all the veterans and current military who gained us that right and protect it yet today.
Join me again tomorrow and pray for our country and our leaders, that they may rely on The Holy Spirit for guidance and continued peace. Bless you! Jim