1 SAMUEL 17:37-40, 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1-2
When new blood emerges with creative ideas and fresh initiatives, we’re sometimes tempted to saddle them with Saul’s armor. Why not pass on to others, especially young untested upstarts, what has served us well? Consider the temptation from David’s point of view. Imagine swaggering around in Saul’s armor! After all, David was the anointed king-in-waiting. What better way to make his entrance, impress the crowd, outsize his smug brothers, and signal to his peers that he’s moving up, going places! How many of us have yielded to this same temptation in its many modern forms? The lure of respectability, endorsements, certification, legitimacy, title. Some of these have their place. But often they’re nothing more thank – clink, clink – Saul’s armor! While we appreciate the sincerity of the Sauls in our live, we must nevertheless, always tell the truth: I cannot go in these…
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For televisions stations, radio stations and newspapers to be made accountable to broadcast and report the truth
- For the Satan’s efforts to drum up anti-ethnic and anti-religious sentiments to be defeated
- For responsible government leaders not to condone or encourage the media in smear campaigns for their own personal benefit
- For the state and religion to be seen as two totally different entities and for the government not to sponsor or favor any religion or ethnic group against the other
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the church to see and respond to the Holy Spirit’s desire to draw the whole church together
- For us to see ourselves as one church, though many congregations
- For us to find more appropriate forms of evangelism and church planting while being sensitive to the present climate of persecution
- For wisdom and boldness to present the message of the gospel clearly and powerfully
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Afghanistan.