Recently, I was at my brother Kevin’s home. I always enjoy the transparent and Jesus-filled chats we have with one another. One morning we were discussing life with raising adult children. Ugh! I do believe that, although this stage (ages 18-24) are loads of fun, there are also loads of prayers going up for them, and to me it is more heart-difficult than when they were young. Now, the choices they make have adult consequences. During our conversation he shared with me the classic 1984 therapy skit.
As we view what is disgustingly occurring in our nation today, with all the ridiculous rioting, I can imagine our Heavenly Father looking down on His children and saying those two words that Bob Newhart stressed in the therapy video…STOP IT!
Enjoy some comic relief and let those two words sink in:
https://youtu.be/Ow0lr63y4Mw
I know I’ve thought those two words in my head often with my children, and even said it a few times to them. This is what I want to say to all those agitators out there roaming the streets, looting, burning business and buildings, hurting others, getting in the way of officials trying to do the right thing, etc…STOP IT!
There are a plethora of travesties occurring in our nation today. Can I remind you that:
- The top two greatest commandments are to love God and love people; Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands. Matthew 22:37-40
- God is not a racist; Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from. Acts 10:34-35. Now, in Christ, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, male or female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
There is a website I often go to to biblically back up to help clarify situations. Here is what is has to say about:
- Rioting: https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-rioting.html
- Racism: https://www.gotquestions.org/racism-Bible.html
This morning 1 Peter 2 seemed so relevant to our current society situation. Please read it. All of it. The underlining sections are my emphasis:
So then, stop doing anything to hurt others. Don’t lie anymore, and stop trying to fool people. Don’t be jealous or say bad things about others. Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow up and be saved. You have already tasted the goodness of the Lord. The Lord Jesus is the living stone. The people of the world decided that they did not want this stone. But he is the one God chose as one of great value. So come to Him. You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house. You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures say, “Look, I have chosen a cornerstone of great value, and I put that stone in Zion. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” So, that stone brings honor for you who believe. But for those who don’t believe he is “the stone that the builders refused to accept, which became the most important stone.” For them he is also “a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes people fall.” People stumble because they don’t obey what God says. This is what God planned to happen to those people. But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light. In the past you were not a special people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now God has given you his mercy. Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves. People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the day he comes. Be willing to serve the people who have authority in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, the highest authority. And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good. When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what God wants. Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God. Show respect for all people. Love your brothers and sisters in God’s family. Respect God, and honor the king. Slaves, be willing to serve your masters. Do this with all respect. You should obey the masters who are good and kind, and you should obey the masters who are bad. One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God. But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God. This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did: “He never sinned, and he never told a lie.” People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly. Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives. 1 Peter 2 ERV
I want to encourage you to pray for our nation, people of all races, government, first responders, families (those whose people are in arm’s reach daily of keeping us secure, and your own), your enemies, for yourself to proactively show God’s love and kindness to others, and for Jesus Christ’s love to be evident and shared with our world.
Justice will be served by God to ALL who have done wrong.
Blessings to you and yours, and with much love and prayers for you,
Stephanie
In case you don’t follow Soaking Up The Son on Facebook, here is what I posted on Sunday the 31st:
Dear Friend,
As our nation convulses with pain, anger, and hatred, this is a moment for Christians to shine for our Lord, who is the Prince of Peace. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26, ESV), yet each sundown is bringing with it the darkness of more violence and destruction in more cities. Scripture also tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). This means doing what we personally can do to right wrongs and help the hurting. It also means praying fervently to our Heavenly Father for Him to change hearts and heal our land. The One “who is in you” — Christ — “is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
We need to pray for PEACE, because “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
Pray for PERSPECTIVE, because “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
Pray for PATIENCE, because of God’s “kindness and forbearance and patience” toward us all (Romans 2:4). And pray for an OUTPOURING of His wisdom and direction for our leaders and officials who are dealing with this crisis. Ask God to change hearts and heal this divide in our nation.
May 31,2020 is Pentecost Sunday, which marks the day the Holy Spirit filled Christ’s followers after He ascended back to the Father. There is no better time for us to seek a fresh visitation from God upon our lives, homes, churches, communities and country.
May God bless you,
Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham
President & CEO
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
I received this as an email. PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY!