If Faith were the Beat of Every Heart...

"  Psalm 85:6  Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

For a while now it has seemed to be increasingly easy to find issues over which there is a disagreement between folks.  In fact, some days it almost feels as though we are inundated with contentious issues and with the ardent views of folks on one side or another of a given issue.  Our focus, our mental and our emotional focus are being pulled and challenged.

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There is a marvelous blessing mixed in with all of this.  In fact, there are marvelous, multiple blessings mixed in.  The very first and the most wonderful is that you and I have been given Faith in our Lord Jesus.  This beautiful truth IS the one focus that comes before any other.  When there may be issues “of the world” about which levels of disagreement may exist, they simply fade into unimportance in the Light and Truth of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

It is essential to lean on, to breathe the air of this blessing.  Though I am given to any manner of human weakness, Word and Sacrament are God’s gracious power to hold my focus on this blessing.  

There is an attendant blessing which harmonizes with it.  We have the joy of sharing our focus.  We have the joy of sharing the power and depth of our Faith with family.  We have the privilege of sharing this blessing with anyone who crosses our path.  Even better, when those windows of opportunity for sharing come along, we do not depend on our own strength or wisdom for the sharing.  He, God, who blesses us also gives all that we need to share and be a blessing to others.

Take a day.  Actually, you probably do not need an entire day to see how deeply our national society, our world society, needs this focus.  If Faith were the beat of every heart then the issues which divide us would be mere nuance.  They would become an opportunity for a shared solution.

To that end, please join me in a prayer for NATIONAL REVIVAL – for WORLD REVIVAL.

Dear Heavenly Father – Your grace and mercy are perfect and all-powerful.  Please hear our plea for powerful revival, for sweeping acceptance of Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Use each of us as tools to bring this about.  Give each of us the joy of knowing Your work in our lives for the purpose of Your work in all lives.  We desperately need revival, Father.  In Jesus’ Name.  AMEN

Pastor Rod

" Philippians 4:13  I can do everything through Christ Who gives me strength.