Forgiveness by the Grace of God

We live in a country that is managed by politicians and government. Fortunately, we are a democracy and not a dictatorship. We get to vote who goes into political office. While our democracy was founded by faith based leaders, we are not a theocracy. In our democracy, the Church and State are separate, but live together in some sort of harmony. The influx of Non-Christian religions into America over the centuries has made it more difficult for government and politicians to declare us a Christian Nation.

The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the government’s establishment of religion, which is interpreted as freedom of religion. Having said that, many in our nation still consider America to be a Christian based nation founded on Christian principles.  As we know, America has not always been faithful to its own founding notion that “All men are created equal.”  Ironically the slaves that were imported to America discovered Christianity and have used it to build hope in seeking equality even up to today.

Since the beginning of this democracy, our political leaders have sometimes invoked the Hand of God in the challenges that have faced our nation. Strong charismatic leadership by presidents and other leaders in government and military have lifted the hope and desire of our challenged country in times of war, internal conflict and many other challenges.

In spite of political persuasion, our leaders have led the nation with both full support and majority support in many ways. Whether issues of war, race, ethnicity, or economies, our leaders have addressed these things most times with phrases like, God Bless America.

Issues of racism continue today in many parts of our country. Our leaders have not been able to effectively address the issues in our cities that perpetuate poverty, crime and racism. America has recently been blessed by the responses to the murder of nine African Americans while attending a Bible Study in their church. As you know, one of the victims was the church Pastor and a State Senator in South Carolina.

For a number of reasons, recent similar events across our country have resulted in hate, looting and basically destruction of the communities around the incident. These have been lose/lose results with little coming together of all people in the community. In the Charleston, South Carolina, tragedy, the families and church friends of the victims set a Godly example for the whole world to see. Through the Grace of God, they were able to forgive the deranged murderer, even though he sat with his targets for an hour being welcomed in their Bible Study.           

The forgiveness shown to the murderer shocked the nation and has become a universal Bible lesson for humanity. Due to his personal relationship with the murdered Pastor and State Senator, our President was moved to deliver the eulogy for his friend and the other victims that may go down as the greatest moment in his presidency. The whole world was watching the funeral service.

The President deserves credit for putting together such a wonderful message, however like the rest of us, he was moved by the community’s forgiveness in such a way that allowed him to see God’s Grace in all of the sadness. His singing of Amazing Grace showed the depth of how this event impacted him. In Luke 23:43 we hear Jesus respond to the thief that turned to Him: “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church taught the world the forgiveness of Christ.

The Importance of Dots

Imagine the World Globe with dots all over it. Using dots on the globe is a way learning institutions, governments and the media show us certain information about things that impact us. It’s a way of describing the places that certain things are happening.  As I watched some dots on a television documentary the other day, I began to think about what prayer dots would look like on the globe. I wondered how prayer dots would look as they are happening over the world all day every day.

In my own life experience, I have been involved in personal prayer, family prayer, prayer and share groups, prayer for mission, various specific ministry organizations working together in prayer and of course regular Church services. Thinking about my weekly prayer and share group, I wondered, how many groups like mine are functioning all over God’s created planet Earth.

At the bottom of my “dot” wondering was a sense that each and every person or group is important to God.  Even though I am involved in only a few dots on the world global prayer activity, my dots are as bright as each of the other dots. To me, that emphasizes God’s ability to be with us in all things. He is present whether we turn to Him or not. God wants us to connect with him in all of our living.

In each of our prayer dots, we must know that our dot is as important to God as is any other dot around the world. We can experience God’s presence in the smallest of prayer situations and know we are as well heard as any other place on Earth.

Now that we’re comfortable with our prayer dots mingled with billions of other prayer dots, maybe we can relax and know that our job in this prayer relationship with God is important to God Himself. Seeking God, thanking Him, praising Him and turning our needs over to Him are a few of the ways we connect with Him regularly.   

In 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 St. Paul explains to us how we might approach prayer:
 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”

For Paul, connecting with God’s Spirit was an important part of communicating with God through prayer. We should let loose of our ego and allow the Lord to fill us with His Spirit. Surrendering to Him and waiting to be filled with His Spirit is the key.  

In Philippians 4:6, Paul goes on to say: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

St. Paul reminds us how constant our prayer life should be in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: ^“Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Keeping our bright prayer dots going along with the millions of other bright world prayer dots is so important to God. In connecting with God constantly through our prayer and actions, we are lights in this World for the Lord and much needed.