I am born again but not stupid. My radio playlist includes a lot of evangelical preachers. I love to hear from those who faithfully dig deep into the Scriptures and declare its riches. But I am not stupid.
While listening to these preachers on a daily basis, I noticed that from 2009-2017, there is a Scripture that never crossed their lips. However, in 2017 it was as if there was a revival of that particular Scripture. As a matter of fact, a preacher in Alabama sent it to me, in response to something I said last week.
The Scripture is 2 Timothy 2:1&2. It says:
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
I might be born again but I am not stupid. Why, the resurgence of this Scripture on their lips in 2017? It wasn’t there 2009-2017? And what is the significance of 2009-2017? Senator Barack Obama became President in 2009 and D. Tr_P moved into the White House in 2017.
I am born again but I am not stupid. Yes. I believe the Scriptures to be authoritative and regardless to how I feel I am suppose to love according to the Scriptures and I believe that I am not suppose to hate anybody and I don’t. That’s the Bible and I do have the Holy Spirit inside of me and He encourages me in the direction of love. I love, but I am not stupid.
Last week, I received a communication from an old acquaintance. I had not heard from him in years. He sent me something about praying for Tr_p based on Scripture. I told him that since we are praying for the leaders of the country, how about praying for Rev. Al Sharpton. He leads the National Acton Network? What about Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Coalition? I asked did he ever consider praying for Minister Louis Farrakhan or Hillary Clinton? Maybe I offended him because he stopped communicating.
I believe in prayer and I do not believe that God honors prayers done in hatred. So I cannot hate. I pray for D. Tr_p, but I am not stupid and will not allow him to use me for a photo op. Although my prayers for him are always private, I can say that they parallel a story I read about.
“Due, perhaps, the death of her husband, a woman was left to raise her son alone. He depended on her and she depended on him even though he was only 16 years old. One day she sent him to the store to get some food and told him to hurry back. On the way back the temptation was too great. He stopped to play basketball. By the time he got home, it was dark and some of the food had spoiled. She was very disappointed. But instead of issuing the usual punishment, she took him into the bedroom. She knelt to pray. He knelt beside her. She said, ‘Lord, make a man out of him.’ The boy never forgot it. From that time forward he tried to never disappoint his mother again.”
When she asked God to make a man out of him, it reminds me of the way God makes men out of us. He often does it by allowing the world to whip our behinds. I can assure the reader that my prayers for D Tr_p are similar to the mother’s prayers for her son, knowing that God will allow life to do what it does.
At Life Step Baptist, I do not encourage hatred. And I believe that Tr_p is responsible for the spike in outward shows of racism. My ministry introduces people to Christ who can help us face ugliness in Godly ways. I don’t believe that you do that by being silent. Silence is consent.
You face it with truth and you give it to God by obeying Him.
Life Step Ministries 