A Call to Christians
With the recent tragedy this past week, I feel this is a great opportunity for Christians. We know what the promises in the Bible are and now is a time to claim them. We know God takes what is intended for our harm and uses it for good. (Genesis 50:20b) He can and will heal our land, IF we pray, seek Him and obey. “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” II Chronicles 7:14
He has provided us with a river of living water on the inside of us, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High” Psalm 46:4; “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38; we need to go to that river and drink deeply, let it flow in us, through us and over us to refresh us. This river provides peace and God has promised peace that surpasses all understanding. “And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. This peace makes no sense to unbelievers, they look at circumstances and don’t understand how peace can be found during a tragedy. This peace doesn’t mean we don’t grieve or feel emotions. God feels emotions, He grieves, feels compassion, love and jealousy but He always has peace. This same peace that He has He’s promised to give to us. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
As Christians, we are not to define ourselves from the outside in, but rather from the inside out. We do not find our security, peace, joy, love and life from the outside, from our circumstances or our environment; we find these things from the inside, from that river within us. We have the Holy Spirit in us and we are called to forgive, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44. We are to bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ in all that we say and do.
We are blessed to have in office a President that calls the nation to prayer. Prayer is being talked about daily on the TV news and is making the front page of the paper. All over the world people are turning to God. We can pray that relationships with God will develop in people due to this.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39