Years before the Second World War, Winston Churchill warned Britain that the Nazis were gathering a war machine to conquer England and Europe.
But political leaders at the time scoffed and sought accommodation - even sacrificing Czechoslovakia to Germany - to avoid war. They thought they could prevent war by being nice and giving ground in hopes that Germany would be satisfied.
Are we Christians today under the illusion that the growing darkness in our world - not only political but also social and spiritual - can be stopped by hoping things will turn out well?
I believe we need to pray hard for our country and for our people. We need to pray against creeping evil.
Above all, I believe we need to pray for ourselves as believers. Are we part of the reason for the spreading sickness in our society?
It's interesting that God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Christ.
John was not a handsome superstar with an impressive resume. He came from the wilderness, wearing skins and eating locusts and wild honey.
But he spoke truth - truth that deeply disturbed the ruling powers in the Jewish religion and politics.
He called people to repent of their sins and drew a huge following. Ordinary people were struck to the heart by what he said and came forward to confess their sins and be baptized.
Jesus said this man was a great prophet and grieved after Herod executed him.
John's preaching opened the way for the world-changing mission of Christ. The hearts of many were prepared by the strange prophet who urged the people to repent.
In the Old Testament, God moved in response to the repentance of his people in hard times. In fact, he promised King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that he would heal Israel if the Israelites humbled themselves and confessed their sin and prayed for forgiveness.
Is it time for us Christians to admit that we have turned away from God in many ways? Are our hearts far from him?
Pressured by society, we have come to accept anti-Christian social views even among ourselves.
And if I saw Christ face to face today, I would be embarrassed because I know there is a lot of hardness in my heart.
We have become so accustomed to the way the world is that we doubt that it will - or even can - change. But God has proved many times in human history that he can transform societies with the gospel of Jesus Christ, aided by the power of prayer.
Jesus believed in prayer. He spent nights in prayer to the Father as he prepared for the overwhelming crowds of needy people the following day.
If he believed prayer can change things, why don't we?
But political leaders at the time scoffed and sought accommodation - even sacrificing Czechoslovakia to Germany - to avoid war. They thought they could prevent war by being nice and giving ground in hopes that Germany would be satisfied.
Are we Christians today under the illusion that the growing darkness in our world - not only political but also social and spiritual - can be stopped by hoping things will turn out well?
I believe we need to pray hard for our country and for our people. We need to pray against creeping evil.
Above all, I believe we need to pray for ourselves as believers. Are we part of the reason for the spreading sickness in our society?
It's interesting that God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Christ.
John was not a handsome superstar with an impressive resume. He came from the wilderness, wearing skins and eating locusts and wild honey.
But he spoke truth - truth that deeply disturbed the ruling powers in the Jewish religion and politics.
He called people to repent of their sins and drew a huge following. Ordinary people were struck to the heart by what he said and came forward to confess their sins and be baptized.
Jesus said this man was a great prophet and grieved after Herod executed him.
John's preaching opened the way for the world-changing mission of Christ. The hearts of many were prepared by the strange prophet who urged the people to repent.
In the Old Testament, God moved in response to the repentance of his people in hard times. In fact, he promised King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that he would heal Israel if the Israelites humbled themselves and confessed their sin and prayed for forgiveness.
Is it time for us Christians to admit that we have turned away from God in many ways? Are our hearts far from him?
Pressured by society, we have come to accept anti-Christian social views even among ourselves.
And if I saw Christ face to face today, I would be embarrassed because I know there is a lot of hardness in my heart.
We have become so accustomed to the way the world is that we doubt that it will - or even can - change. But God has proved many times in human history that he can transform societies with the gospel of Jesus Christ, aided by the power of prayer.
Jesus believed in prayer. He spent nights in prayer to the Father as he prepared for the overwhelming crowds of needy people the following day.
If he believed prayer can change things, why don't we?
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