Prayer for leaders

 "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:7-8

Per Strongs, the word for remember has the sense of being mindful of, thinking about, pondering. Yes, there was a time, for most of us, when we did not know the Word of the Lord, and God used another believer to share with us the best news of all time! How often do we thank God for that person? They, by the integrity of their walk, have shown us the way that we should go. How can we honor them today?

The Jesus they shared with us is the same Jesus we now share with others. When we are out in the field, doing a blitz, or encountering people in our daily walk, we can call to mind that we are not sharing words about Christ so much as we are presenting to them the very Person of Christ. He said, "If I be lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all men unto me". When we are sharing His Word, He is right there with us. We need not think ahead of time about what we will say, for His Word indwells us, and gives our mouth utterance. 

Thus we honor those who have graced us with God's word. We remember them by doing what they did for us when we share the Lord Jesus with others. 

Continuous Repentance

 From the Puritan Book of Prayer:

O GOD OF GRACE,

A. Position in Christ on account of what He has done:

Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
      and hast imputed his righteousness
    to my soul,
  clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,
  decking me with jewels of holiness.

B. Our Subjective Experience

    1. Human Failure

However, in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
  my best prayers are stained with sin;
  my penitential tears are so much impurity;
  my confessions of wrong are so many
    aggravations of sin;
  my receiving the Spirit is saturated with
    selfishness.

    2. Need for repentance

I need to repent of my (external, fake) repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
  no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
  and by grace am always receiving change of
    raiment,
  for thou dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
  and always returning home as a prodigal,
  always saying, Father, forgive me,
  and thou art always bringing forth
    the best robe.

    3.Asking to be clothed with Christ

Every morning let me wear it,
  every evening return in it,
  go out to the day’s work in it,
  be married in it,
  be wound in death in it,
  stand before the great white throne in it,
  enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

C. Prayer of remembrance 

Grant me never to lose sight of
  the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
  the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
  the exceeding glory of Christ,
  the exceeding beauty of holiness,
  the exceeding wonder of grace.

The Purpose of the Law

 "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (I Tim 1:5).

Is this a fair description of the faith today? Many in the church of the west disapprove of the "Woke" left, and would like to vote them out of office. I am uncomfortable with the close political ties that are associated with members of the Christian Faith. Those on the MAGA side of the faith want to vote in politicians who would end abortion, gay rights, feminism etc. Those on the Woke side of the Faith don't seem to care what the Bible says about moral issues. Many of those on both sides may not truly be saved, though. 

A third alternative should be visible soon. I know that abortion is the taking of a human life, and that Gay is not an "alternative lifestyle" but rather open rebellion against God. However, I do not believe I need to openly confront those who do not agree. First of all, they already know that they are not right with God, per Romans one. Any statement from me would not add anything, and only reinforce stereotypes of judgmental attitudes. Secondly, a heart check is needed. Is what I am doing the result of the love of God in my heart? If I know God, all that I do is the result of love (I John 4:7). I pray for the opportunity to share this with the world.