As our country weeps with blood, with tears, with fear of the next tragedy, we are called to do what only Christians can do – pray and love.

There’s a history in this nation from which all of our turmoil is rooted. We must remember this is nothing new. The color of the skin has been a long time issue that ought not be, but is. The struggle of sexual sin goes back to the Bible times. It’s not a new trend, or the way our world is headed these days. It is who people become without the love of Jesus indwelling the body. Without Christ, there is no love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:7-8(ESV)

How do we react to the current events of our world? What are we to do? Do we sit idly by while people are being killed for no reason? Do we turn our heads and pretend nothing is going on? Do we shout it from the mountain that this is unfair, ridiculous, and a sin sick world? It’s hard to know what to do and the emotions run high, but God tells us in His word exactly what to do.

He tells us there will be wars and rumors of wars, and we’ve seen them in the streets of our country. We’ve seen the shootings on television, Facebook, and in our own backyards. We’ve seen the raids, the protests, the killing. It here and it’s now. We cannot turn a blind eye, sweep sin under the rug, and pretend like life is normal.

So how should we react?

1. Realize sin destroys, but Jesus saves.

Sin always has destroyed, always will destroy until Jesus returns. Sin is the problem, not race, not sex, not police. But Jesus restores.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. I Peter 5:6-10(ESV)

2. Realize the enemy deceives, but God gives truth.

While our country fights over whose life really matters, the enemy is cheering his forces of darkness for more destroyed lives. Fear is flooding people’s minds as terror threatens to reign. The father of all the brokenness in our world is not Islam, or the division of races, gender identity, or our political system, it is Satan and we must stop fighting each other, and start engaging in war against him.

When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44b(ESV)

3. Realize religion will not heal our land, but a relationship with Jesus will.

Religion is not the answer, Jesus is. Until the Gospel is implanted in people’s hearts and a relationship with Jesus is bred, there will be hatred and more horrific events.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6(ESV)

4. Realize it is our job to love and pray, not to condone or criticize.

We must love everyone and that love should compel us to share Jesus. It doesn’t mean we compromise our belief in Jesus or our doctrine of standing for what’s right, but it means we show the compassion and love of Jesus to the souls we meet each day. It’s not about a person’s gender identity or the color of their skin, it’s about the love of God for the every soul.

Jesus holds the power to set people free from racism, sexually immorality, addiction, and demon possession. He is the only answer. Jesus loves every single person. It does not mean we applaud sin or even condone it. It does not mean we turn our heads and pretend sin isn’t present.

It means we love beyond the sin. It means we teach the truth in love and we pray for every heart to turn to Jesus. The Holy Spirit does the convicting, the changing, the saving, the transforming – we do not hold the power to do any of that. We do hold the power of the Holy Spirit to love unconditionally, to be patient in the tribulations, and to handle life with gentleness and peace.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16(KJV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35(ESV)

We may not see the day when unity fills America, but there is a day coming when all will be one. Every nation, every race, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Until that day, we must pray in unity with Holy Spirit of God for men to repent, surrender, and follow Jesus. He is the answer. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11(ESV)

We don’t need more of this or less of that, we need Jesus.

Love & Blessings,

Micah

What do you feel compelled, called, or convicted to do in light of recent events? I would love to hear your ideas for ways that we can reach out and share the gospel of Jesus with our hurting world.

Here is where I am sharing this post this week.