I can’t remember where I heard it, but I have in my notes on my phone the following:
“Teach a man his rights, and you will have a revolution. Teach a man his responsibilities, and you will have a revival.”
I came across it again this morning as I write. Of course, on the surface, we could make this political, or for/against certain ideologies, but we aren’t going to go there.
As I read and contemplate this morning, I am focused on the latter part of that phrase.
Responsibilities … duties … instruction … action and obedience!
There is no doubt we are now living in a time where there is much upheaval, unrest, and different factions of society fighting for their rights. If we are not careful, we can allow those circumstances to control our focus.
There is no doubt that we live in a time where change is needed across the human landscape, but more than revolution or a protest, we are in need of revival, and it must begin, not with us shouting in anger, reacting to the noise we hear all around us, but on our knees in prayer.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I think there are times where we wonder if He is listening. We grow weary, forgetting of what was foretold, and all the while I picture God wanting to hear from our hearts all the more! Even in the darkest moments in our lives, we must lift our voices to Him and cry out for Him more fervently. He will bend His ear to our prayers!
His response to our prayers never changes, because He doesn’t change!
The destiny of the nation you are in begins with the hearts of men within it. When God’s people humble themselves and pour their lives into obedience to their creator, they are doing more for the life of their children, our children’s children, the hope of all people, than any force, words, weapons, or anything else man assembles on His own.
I am fully in belief that if every man of God loved others as commanded, without any provocation, preconceived notion or agenda, then so much of the unrest would be obliterated. As man feels valued, then there is less need to fight, and the inclination will be to see the best in each other, rather than to assume the worst.
Be the harbinger of that change! Be the man unwilling to be swayed by public opinion. Be the man who loves unconditionally those the world would pit you against!
There may come a day when fighting in what feels like revolution comes. Today, let us fight from humility on our knees in petition to God. Today, let us be the men that fully assume our responsibilities as men of God!
Love you guys!
Michael Bodine
Gibborim Comms