Last week
I started a new blog, Thinking in The Spirit, http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/. I began writing about the relief
and refuge of repentance. Next week I will continue that theme. But this week,
and every other week in the future, I want to return to Watching in Prayer.
This
being an election year in America, I want to talk to you about praying your
politics. What does this mean? How do you apply this dictum?
If you get
serious about doing this, you will of course pray your thinking. Nearly all of us feel
like what we believe our country needs is being threatened. And I
believe you need to do that even if I do not agree with your politics.
But let me
ask you if you are praying for your morals. How important are your morals to
you? Are you tempted to focus more on the economy or your comfort, your own
benefit above what God declares to be right or wrong?
Do your
morals include compassion? Compassion is the most critical thing Jesus spoke of
concerning judgment of the nations.
“When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly
glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will
separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his
left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on
his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the
kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I
was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer
him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you
in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you
the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you
did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his
left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for
the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me
nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I
was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in
prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the
truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do
for me.’
46 “Then
they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew
25:31-46
