I love the story about Peter Cartwright who was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher back in the 1800's. He was known for being straightforward and uncompromising.
One Sunday morning as he was about to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. He was warned not to say anything that would be controversial.
Cartwright went to the pulpit and said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."
The congregation was shocked. They sat silently, wondering how the President might react. Jackson didn't flinch.
After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."
We all need people in our lives who will speak the truth to us. Every president needs people around him who will tell him the truth. I've prayed regularly for years for the president of our country, no matter who is occupying the oval office. My prayer again this morning was that President Obama would surround himself with people who would rely, not on the wisdom of man, but on the wisdom of God. I pray that his convictions and direction would come from God's Word, not man's word, and that he would listen to wise and godly counsel. I don't consider that a selfish prayer, but all of us as citizens of the United States will benefit if our president will listen to and obey the truth that is based on the Word of God. As Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
0 comments:
Post a Comment