by National House of Prayer
“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people over others?”
James 2:1
Sociologists argue that human beings are inclined to sort things and people by type. We use aspects like ethnic background, gender, common economic, cultural, or political status, religion, and political ideology to classify people. Our sense of belonging to a group gives us an essential perception of value, and identity.
In our world today, we see clear battle lines being drawn, politically and culturally. We even see divisions among families.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw a rise in anti-Asian hate. There is worry that the current exposure of China’s political interference in Canada can escalate to further toxicity against Asian Canadians.
We watch the language in the political arena become more and more noxious, injurious and destructive. When news of the separation of the Prime Minister and Sophie was disclosed, it did not take long for the malicious and vicious memes to hit social media. Talk about kicking a man when he is down. Seemingly, there was no thought of the suffering family behind the announcement.
This happens when ideologies become more important than people. As Christians, we are not called to bring judgment. Our Heavenly mandate is to love and to pray.
I did not always love Justin Trudeau. There was a time when I joined with the accuser against him with my viewpoints and my discriminations.
When the Holy Spirit began to convict my heart in this area, I had to make changes. There was a time when the very sound of PM Trudeau’s voice would annoy, irritate and even anger me. But that is no longer the case. Instead, there is an enduring expectation in me that God is provoking transformation in his heart. Praying for him has changed my heart towards him. I now find that the more I pray for our PM, the more affection I feel for him. I also feel a constant hope and overshadowing of God’s might and power over the life of our Prime Minister and ultimately over our nation.
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Romans 8:34
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
Hebrews 7:25
Jesus is unceasingly interceding for us before the Throne of God. However, Revelation 12:10 talks of the accuser of the brethren – the one who accuses them before God day and night.
Who are we agreeing with in our prayers?
We are called to join with Jesus in His ministry of intercession. The words that come out of our mouths should be His words – not our opinions or our judgements.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says we are to pray for everyone with no favouritism. You will notice in verse 4, that God’s intention is for everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Let’s be different from the world. Let us join in the intercession of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, aligning our prayers with His, believing that all men and women will come to the saving knowledge of Him.