Just this morning, I had breakfast with a group of older people at a local fast food restaurant. Everything was going well until someone started talking about the anti-Christ. An eighty-nine year old women piped up and exclaimed that President Obama was the anti-Christ. I then told her that he certainly was not the anti-Christ. But this woman was so filled with prejudiced hatred that no one could convince her otherwise. She is a gray headed Caucasian woman who was set in her ways. Although she proclaims to be a Christian, she had a hatred for Obama. My concern for her as well as others like her is that she is truly lost because as a Christian, you cannot have hatred for another. The Holy Spirit cannot occupy your heart and yet one has hatred for others in it.
We can live in a country and say the most hurtful and mean things about POTUS and not worry about losing our lives. This woman said that the country was lost and needed to change and yet she cannot see her own sin because of her prejudiced outlook on people of a different color and race. If we want to see change in our nation, then the change most start with each individual person within their own hearts. People who are filled with so much hatred for those of a different race, I believe it just shows the true “you” and a dark heart that has no love.
The very freedoms a US Citizen has in America was won on the deaths and sacrifices of the US Armed Forces. Before criticizing your POTUS with hateful remarks, why not consider praying for him? After all, we are called to pray! We are called to pray for our neighbors and get this, even our enemies. Regardless of your political stance, why not consider espousing LOVE as opposed to hate? It is easier to forgive than to carry the burden of a grudge.
The fact that proclaimed Believers participate in this type of behavior means that they still have a heart problem. Maybe they truly are not “real Christians.” Maybe they are even using “Christianity” as a political tool. Whatever their motive, by speaking “evil words” against a man or a woman means that one does not have the Love of Christ in their heart.
I don’t know what kind of god you worship or affiliate with? But my God can overcome! My God can heal hearts! My God can forgive trespasses! My God can help people to overcome!
So, why should we pray for a man or woman in leadership whom we do not care for? Because by praying for them, we are asking God to intervene for us that they will do the right thing. My God can change hearts and can save people from their sins.
Why pray for leaders to fear God? When someone leads and lives their life fearing God, they experience:
1. Wisdom
2. Knowledge
3. Understanding
4. Eternal Praise
5. Victory
6. God’s Protection
7. A Blameless Walk
8. Length of Life
9. Wealth and Honor
10. Humility
11. The Avoidance of Evil
12. Being Untouched by Trouble
13. The Saving of a Crushed Spirit
14. A Life That Lacks Nothing
Credit: Dr. Mark Becton taken from sermon preached on 01/22/2017, at Grove Avenue Baptist Church.
These fourteen points is all the reason to pray for your leaders, regardless of whether you like them or not. We are called to pray and to show the love of Christ to those who do not know Him, even if it is your POTUS!
James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
1 Timothy 2:1 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.”
Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Matthew 18:19, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-13, “Pray then like this: “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 also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Remember, before criticizing others, look at your own life. If you are without sin, then cast the first stone! But in reality, your life is just as filthy as the life that you are criticizing. Look at Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We all have sin in our own lives. So, before you criticize POTUS or any other leader, consider cleaning up your own life before trying to straighten out the lives of others! This is exactly why we must be praying for others as well as have others to pray for us! GOD CAN! HE CAN OVERCOME!
If you want to see change, then start by analyzing your own life, asking forgiveness, and then living your life for God. Also pray for your leaders, even the ones you do not care for. It will make the difference in our nation as well as in our own lives.
Joseph T. Lee, Copyright © March 26, 2018, The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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