Pray for Those Who Spread the Gospel of God

Prayer-Soldier

But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, said the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in the law. Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then does every one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our fathers? (Malichi 2:8-10)

Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children: So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, and justly, and without blame, we have been to you that have believed: As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a father does his children,) We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory. Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who works in you that have believed. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-13)

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sat on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do you not; for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men; but with a finger of their own they will not move them. And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi. But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren. And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be you called masters; for one is you master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12)

Thanks be to God for the prophets He has sent. Thanks be to God for the priests He has called, for of these children of His, others shall be led to Him. We must learn His Word. We must grow our faith. To help us, He has called men to devote themselves to learning the depths of the scriptures so that they may help educate others. Blessed are we for those who respond, but we should also be careful for those who are called are also men who have faults just as we. They are the targets of the evil one, for if one who leads is led astray, then, how many who follow the one are led astray as well?

Intently we must listen and in prayer we should ask for discernment of the meaning of what we hear for all that is preached is not of God. The evil one will seek to tempt our clergy to offer us deceptions and to act in ways to cause us to lose faith. We must make no mistake, those who present the faith are under constant attack for what better way to lead the flock astray than to appear as the leader of the flock.

Woe to those who accept the mantle of faith, but lead the flock of the Lord to falsehoods. The day will come for them to be accountable for their words, accountable for what they have done and what they have failed to do. Woe also to the children who are so easily misled, for as they fail to pray for their clergy, they leave the door open for the evil one to attack in small, subtle ways; small things which lead to big things, which paves the way to paths away from the Lord. The children of God must listen and pray for their clergy so that none are led astray.

The priests before us are as human as we. They too have sinned and will sin through their own faults, through their own words, in what they have done and what they have failed to do. If we leave them to themselves, alone, and they fail; how is it we should judge them, for what have we done to come to their aid? If their words turn to hate, if their words are not true to the greatest commandments, if their actions are not examples of the Word; should we not see if our eyes are open?

Careful must we be for how we bring to the attention of our brothers and sisters the failings of anyone, for as one falters, so it is possible for each of us. We should not approach in judgment, but according to the commandments to love. We should pray that God will guide us in how we should guide others. If what we hear is not rooted in love, then what we hear is not of God. If what we do is not rooted in love, then what we do is not of God. In prayer we must ask that the Holy Spirit guides us. In prayer, we must ask that God protects those He calls to spread His Word.

We are called to love one another so that we can draw the shield of love around the whole community to protect all from the ways of evil. Evil is the absence of love; therefore, when we fail to act in love, we open the door to evil. The same is for all the children of God, even those who dedicate themselves to the Lord, for the choice to follow Him or walk away from Him remains with each of us to the last day, to the last hour, to the last moment. Let us stand in love for one another, for love is what lights the way. Love is the source of the sacrifice made so that all might be saved.

Blessed are we when those who speak to us of the Lord reveal the great light before us. Blessed are we when the words we hear settle in our hearts to nurture love; love for God and love for one another. Blessed are we when our souls are nourished so that we act towards one another in love. We are warned against sin, but care must be taken that the warnings of sin do not also carry with them temptations of other forms of sin.

It is easy to look upon another and see their failings, but what are we to do with our own? How can we reproach another for stains when we are also covered in stain? Blessed are we if we help another away from sin, but we are called to do it in love. If we find hate and loathing in our efforts, we allow the sin of another to also lead us astray. In prayer, we should ask for guidance so that what we do in service for others is truly the work of God and not our own agendas leading to doubtful paths. In prayer, we should ask how we may provide the light for others to follow and comfort the soul in anguish.

Blessed are those who are called by God to spread His Word, for through them, many will hear; but it is not enough to speak or hear, for that is simply the message; it is not living the meaning. There are many who stand to profess the faith, but the true challenge is found in living the faith. Those who speak in judgment of others should first ask, what have I done and for what should I repent? It is easy to hold another to account for what they do. It is far more difficult to hold ourselves to account for our own transgressions.

There is no blessing to be a pious judge, for there is but One who is fit to judge. There is no blessing to wagging a finger at another for God already knows all transgressions and He will hold the transgressors to appropriate account. There is no blessing to hate another for their sin, for there is no commandment to hate, only to love. There is no blessing in holding ourselves superior to another, for He called us to love one another, to live in service of one another, to live in caring for one another; for this is the way of love.

We should listen well to the Word which is professed for us so that we do not accept words of deception which are designed to twist the truth. To every explanation of scripture we should place it to the test of the commandments of love. If we do not find love in the words, then, we should be suspect to their purpose. Love does no evil to another, therefore if what we do is in love, we will fulfill that to which we are called by scripture.

A warning has been issued to those who profess to speak the Word, for as they speak, they are also called to be the example. Still, we should be careful not to judge those who fail, for we too have our own failings. Rather than judging and condemning another, we should pray that we all are forgiven and that all hearts are converted to the desire to live in the peace, joy and love found through living according to the Word of God.

If we pray for all hearts to be filled with love, our heart will be in that number. If we pray that evil is washed from every heart, our heart will be in that number. As every heart is converted, we will see the anguish of the world subside, for in the wake of love is peace and joy. Let every heart, then, be lifted in prayer to the Lord.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier