This past Thursday marked the 59th National Day of Prayer for America. But in a country so divided in its beliefs, values, and practices, what exactly does that mean? Like many Americans, I was not raised in a Christian home and prayer was not a regular part of my life growing up. I was, however, born in a Christian nation with a strong Christian heritage that cannot be disputed. The God of the Bible and the God of our nation’s forefathers, promises in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14,
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Wow! Talk about tolerance! No matter what we’ve done, no matter how far we’ve strayed, or how offensive our lifestyle is to God, He still invites us to come back into a relationship with Him. What other god does that? Even our own family members or beloved friends may refuse to forgive us if we’ve betrayed or offended them—but not God—in His infinite patience and mercy, He’s willing to take us back if we come to Him in humble prayer and repentance. This is an astonishing truth: We, despite our sin, pride and selfishness, may seek, in humility and repentance, to enter the presence of the One and Only Holy God Almighty—and He will let us in!
“ ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 1:3 NIV
Only the God of the Bible offers such undeserved forgiveness to anyone who asks, which we cannot earn—it is a gift from God:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Now that’s tolerance.
Shadia Hrichi
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