I was very tempted this morning to unleash a slew of facts and figures in relation to guns. How an article in a little read publication grossly misrepresented what they call statistics.
Then I was convicted and humbled. I was reminded that it is not the gun that is the problem, it is our hearts that is the problem. Our hearts are so dark and cold to the reality that we are slipping so far away from God as a country, as a society, as a world...that we get so cold and callous. We no longer see the good in our fellow human, we only see the bad.
There is an old saying in the media, if it bleeds it leads. Why is that? Why would we rather see the carnage and destruction that happens in this world, and not acknowledge the blessings we have around us? The simple acts of kindness are ignored and we focus on the hashtags. We focus on the political correctness. We focus on the idea that we can regulate everything out of existence. We do not realize that we are so small in the cosmic scheme of things. Do you really think God did not know that what happened at UCC was going to happen? God knows everything. Yes, you may think him horrible and unfeeling for not stopping it, but that doesn't mean God doesn't love us or that His heart is not grieved just as much if not more than ours.
Christians were executed yesterday for their belief in Christ. His children. Our brothers and sisters. It happened here in Oregon. It happened in South Carolina a few months ago. It happens every day in the Middle East with ISIS putting the sign of the Nazarene on the doors of Christians, and then coming back to kill them.
It is not the guns that is the problem. It is the hearts and intentions of men. I urge my brothers and sisters in Christ to fall to their knees in humility and prayer. Pray for healing. Pray for our eyes to stop looking at our feet or at ourselves, but to look to Christ. To think that we as humans know exactly what needs to be done is beyond ignorant.
There is a reason as Christians we boldly dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever
May God's will be done in our lives, in our country, in our world. Not our will, but His.
Pray. Love one another. Stop the name calling and hatred for people that have different views than you. You are no better than they are. Love, pray, serve. That is what we need to do. That is what our country was founded on. Fall to your knees and pray.
Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
