Amazing Grace

I saw the movie "Amazing Grace," recounting the life of William Wilberforce and his tireless work in Parliament to see slavery abolished in England, decades before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in America. I highly recommend the movie, but only if you bring a supply of tissues, and only if you come prepared to face some challenging questions, such as:

• what is my purpose here? what do I live for?
• how does injustice, sin and suffering affect me? does it affect me?
• when I pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," do I think about what that looks like? do I believe it can actually happen? am I willing to do anything, something, to make my world better?
• if I "resolved" to love my Lord, my God, with all my heart, soul, mind, strength, how would my world, my community, my relationships, my family, be different?

As horrific as slavery is (and yes, I know it still exists and it's a terrible thing), child abuse is ravaging; domestic violence is terrible; abortion; divorce; sexual promiscuity and abuse; addictions; pornography; these sinful, awful realities destroy people, kill relationships, sorely wound souls.

John Piper made a statement on Sanctity of Life Sunday that I still think of often. He said, " I pray that someday the idea of abortion will be as abhorrent to us as the idea of slavery is now."

And Gary Thomas proposed this weekend, and I paraphrase, 'what if our influence for godly families caused fewer divorces?'

What if our lives as believers displayed a hope that would offer more than any synthetic relief drugs or alcohol could provide?

What if we really believed that God is Who He says He is, and that He can do what He says He can do, and that His Word is alive and active in me? (thank you, Beth Moore, and "Believing God.")

". . . You [God] have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame,having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. " Psalm 119:4-6

That is my prayer. Will it be yours?