The conflict, the massacres in Israel, weigh heavy on my mind. Evil can be seen through the window you hold in your hand. I saw someone quoting Nehemiah on X and it seems appropriate for this entire fallen world. This following is not the passage quoted, but replace Eden for Jerusalem, and here we are.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:3-4
Closer to home, at the end of my block actually, I had an encounter with the fallen world last night. At 8pm, I came across a man looking to commit a crime, watching my coming from the bushes, rising and coming towards me upon being seen, shouting “Get out of here”. I did. I ran. I called the police. I warned my neighbor. I sat in shock. I questioned what I saw. I realized I would be mad in the morning.
I was. I’m still mad. Our city, this city we love, is failing all of us. Maybe it’s my privilege to think it is just now is getting to me, in a “good” part of town, but the illusion has been gone for awhile. This is at least the third incident that I know of on my block of houses in the past three months. I know 3 people murdered since I moved here 8 years ago, 2 in the past 13 months. If I think about it, I can start tallying up other thefts and violations of people’s space. Do broken car windows even count? I heard it called the Memphis tax in a prayer group. Gallows humor for the redeemed.
In a call this morning with one of my best friends, grumpy like the rest of us men, I was reminded to not grow weary in doing what is right. He has poured into people for years and is wondering where he should be spending his time and influence. Jesus instructed his disciples to knock the dust off their sandals and carry on when not welcomed. That’s harder said than done. When do you decide to move on? For Memphis, I pray the city comes bearing a wash bin for weary feet.
Lord, we thank you for our time in this place. There is so much good to be done. Encourage us Lord, in acting in accordance with the Holy Spirit. The adversary wants to take our joy. He wants to kill our hope. Some days, too many recently, he seems to be winning. Don’t let that happen.
Lord, I lift up Memphis and its many neighborhoods to You. We pray for safety Lord. We pray for a sense of caring and love of neighbor. We pray that because our cup overfloweth at home, we may share it with those in need. Lord, grant us the strength to be Your light in this darkness.
We lift up Paul Young and the recently elected officials. We pray for their stewardship of their positions. We pray that those who serve this city and county do so for the betterment of the community and not the enrichment of themselves. Lord, forgive us for our many sins. We worship self here, are as close to loving the world as those who don’t know Christ. Change us Lord. Work in our hearts that we may seek You first. May we stand apart based on our love and actions. Use the foolish things of this world to shame the wise.
Lord, we need You. We need encouragement. We want to fortify Your city here. We pray for peace. We pray for hope. We pray that young people are mentored in the ways that lead to life itself, and not the very active path to death and destruction. May we seek wise counsel and form relationships that allow Your word to be shared. We don’t want to be noisy gongs Lord. We want to be lovers of Your children. We pray for the good to overcome the evil, today. Maranatha Father. In Christ’s name, amen.
Amen my Good friend