Sometimes I wonder if God’s call to intercessory prayer is some kind of hoax that I’ve made up for myself. Faith tells me that yes, I am called to pray for people, and that I’d better take it seriously. If nothing else, the alternatives are terrible—live in despair and cynicism, for starts, or still worse, give up.
This was confirmed for me the other evening in the local movie theater as we sat though a half hour of violent previews before the feature film, “The Big Short” (which had no physical violence) came on. I was personally sadden and shaken by these previews, but beyond that, my faith was shaken. Why believe in God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Or how can I? Violence begets violence, and our world is permeated with it.
As Christians, however, we are blessed to return to scripture for help. One of the benefits of reading the Bible regularly is that we can call upon scripture to help us work through difficulties. In this case I was reminded of Abraham bargaining with God in Genesis 18:16-33 to save even a few people of Sodom. Even for the sake of ten, God agrees not to destroy the city.
Then he (Abraham) said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home (Gen. 18:32-33).
Thank God for the Bible. Thank God I can bargain/argue/talk with God. Than God I never entirely give up on God, whose power and righteousness is more than we can ever hope or imagine.
....but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:22-23).
This was confirmed for me the other evening in the local movie theater as we sat though a half hour of violent previews before the feature film, “The Big Short” (which had no physical violence) came on. I was personally sadden and shaken by these previews, but beyond that, my faith was shaken. Why believe in God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Or how can I? Violence begets violence, and our world is permeated with it.
As Christians, however, we are blessed to return to scripture for help. One of the benefits of reading the Bible regularly is that we can call upon scripture to help us work through difficulties. In this case I was reminded of Abraham bargaining with God in Genesis 18:16-33 to save even a few people of Sodom. Even for the sake of ten, God agrees not to destroy the city.
Then he (Abraham) said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home (Gen. 18:32-33).
Thank God for the Bible. Thank God I can bargain/argue/talk with God. Than God I never entirely give up on God, whose power and righteousness is more than we can ever hope or imagine.
....but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:22-23).
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