American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 23
ARC Prayer Meeting
God’s Word teaches many truths concerning the virtue of love. Out of faith, hope, and love, it is the greatest virtue (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love is also the fulfillment of the law of God (Romans 13:10). This love of God to obey Him has been shed abroad in the hearts of God’s people by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
One great aspect of love is the willingness to sacrifice. To sacrifice one’s time, efforts, and resources to glorify God and benefit others demonstrates the love of God and love of neighbor. According to Jesus, these are the two great commandments upon which hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). This loving service in God’s Kingdom was defined by Jesus as true greatness. This contrasts with the world’s definition of greatness, which is defined by dominating others (Mathew 20:26).
The church is called as well to love not in word or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). Thus, a life of sacrificial service is one of the virtues of a dedicated, loving believer. At American Reformation Church, we are determined by God’s grace to exemplify these truths and virtues.
In the Old Testament, there is an incident that comes to light towards the end of David’s life. Once again, he failed and sinned against the Lord. David, against the sound counsel of Joab, (A rascal in his own right) numbered the children of Israel. Afterwards, David’s heart condemned him. He knew he had sinned and done foolishly. God’s judgment came upon the land in the form of a plague.
To stay the plague, the prophet Gad instructed David to go up and erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David was called to make a sacrifice. At first, Araunah wanted to bless David by providing all he needed to make the sacrifice. Here is David’s profound response, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24).
The chapter ends with these words, “And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel” (2 Samuel 24:25).
The land was in peril. Death stalked the land. These very threats and dangers are present in our nation. We have sinned and done foolishly as David before us. God’s judgment is upon us in myriads of ways.
Amazingly, it was the sacrifice that included prayer that withdrew the plague from Israel. Perhaps, we should follow the Lord’s remedy in our day. It is time to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways trusting the Lord that is His time and way, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
