Have you noticed that often when a new leader is seeking election or has come into power it is often with promises of change and hope. I’m not referring to anyone in particular. Many make similar promises, whether or not they use those words or not. And not just in the U.S., but around the world. And I would imagine they genuinely desire to see changes happen. To give people hope.
And the people that they lead grab onto their promises. We want to see change. We long for hope. When we look around at the poverty, disease and tragedy around us we know there has to be something more.
But elections come and go. Kings and queens pass down their crowns. The leaders change, but the promises don’t and neither does the world.
So what would it really take? What would need to happen for us to see change? To feel hope? Jesus said that in the darkness of the world, He is the Light. (John 8:12) And he also told us that as his followers, we are called to be the light of this world. (Matthew 5:14-16)
What would happen if we truly set out to be the light? If we – each one of us that knows the hope in Christ – really lived that out in our day to day lives. If we showed more love? More grace? More mercy? Reached out to those in need? What if we covered our world in prayer? Prayer for protection? Prayer for healing? Prayer for revival?
If God’s army stood up and dusted off their helmets, picked up their shields, raised their swords and took a stand against the devil’s schemes – would we see real change and experience real hope?
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This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls… (Jeremiah 6:16 NLT)
Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord . (Lamentations 3:40 NLT)
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. (Acts 3:19, 20 NLT)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV84)
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And I am feeling personally convicted. “Nice blog, but don’t just talk about it – live it.”