Do your pray for

Do you pray for
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
       But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  1Timothy 2:1-4.
Someone once said to me “why should I pray for a dictator who brings hardship on people? Why should I pray for rulers that live unethical lives? Leaders who are immoral?
Especially why should I pray for my enemies?
Paul makes it clear why we should pray for those in authority. He states, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives” When we live peaceful and quiet lives it is easier to spread the gospel.
We should also be praying for the salvation of our political leadership.
As for praying for our enemies. We should be praying for their salvation. That God will change their heart. That they would let us live our lives in peace.
The apostle Paul writing about Jesus said,
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:9-11.
Every leader of every country like every other person that has ever lived will one day bow before Jesus and confess that He is Lord.
Every leader, as will every person will be judged by God for their deeds in this life. The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
As Christians we have a duty to tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That extends to all walks of life from the poorest person living on the street, to the richest man in the world, to all those in authority over us.
Thus my question to you the reader. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus;
Do you pray for your political leaders?
Do you pray for your boss at work?
Do you pray for your enemy?
Do you pray for peace and freedom that the gospel of Christ may spread more easily?
Please think about it.

Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham 
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
If there is one thing the Christian must remember is we are a holy nation. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth.
As Christ’s representatives we must live a life that is acceptable to God and show those around us the love of God.
We must as the apostle Peter states,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
The writer of Hebrews make a clear statement as to what Christians are to do saying,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14.

That means doing our best to live a life that show love and understanding to all men even our enemy.
There is a very famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believe we need to take to heart as Christians it states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
As Christian travellers through this world this is what we should be doing. Living a life of faith, understanding and Love. Love as defined by the apostle Paul who said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                       1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian please look at your life and ask yourself am I living a life acceptable to God. A life that is holy. For as the writer of Hebrews states,

“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Please think about it.