Father,
Our world is falling
apart. Things that were universally recognized as obviously good and right not
all that long ago are now rejected as evil. Families are falling apart. Fathers
refuse to lead. Being a boy or being a girl is now a matter of a choice. Sex
isn't about love. It's just about pleasure. There is more and more violence.
Tolerance depends on whether what one says is agreeable. And there are fewer
and fewer examples of honorable living. Our world is falling apart.
Father, it would be
easy for us to be overwhelmed by all of this. It would be easy to get to the
point of panic or just blind reaction. But that's not what You want from us in
this situation. You have created this situation. And one result of that is that
You have provided us with opportunities. So, we ask, Father, that You would
make us see these days as an opportunity for the Gospel.
It's just like
Jesus' birth. We sing carols that describe His coming. Some of those carols
remind us that Jesus came into a very dark world. But He came into this dark
world in order to bring the light of the Gospel and to dispel the darkness. He
left us here to continue that work. So, Father, make us shine. Make us shine
with the truths of the Gospel.
To be sure, this will be hard. The forces of evil do not want the darkness scattered. They hate the light. And they hate the light because they hate You. So, there will be battles. Some of these we will lose. But there will also be battles that we will win. And bit by bit, by Your grace, we will push back the darkness.
It will, no doubt,
be a difficult time. But it will also be an amazing time. That's usually how
You spread Your kingdom.
So, we look to You,
Father. Grant to us what we need so that we will fight the good fight and in
this way be the means by which You bring about breathtaking changes in our dark
world. Use us to bring the light of the Gospel to bear so that You will receive
the glory that is due Your Name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.