Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Fear is a strange thing. On the one hand, fear will alert our bodies to danger, sending out powerful hormones that strengthen our defenses and allow us to do great feats of strength and courage to defend our lives. But, fear can also paralyze a person, so that they are unable to function at all. Men and women become heroes when they act IN SPITE of their fear, not because they have no fear in the first place. Bravado, braggadocio, and foolhardiness are NOT "Courage" because no fear is involved. It take the "Brave" to say, "I may lose my life over this, but I must do what is the right thing to do."
Then there are people who are afraid, not of losing their life, but of losing power, prestige, money, or even merely popularity. These people will sacrifice their principles, lie, cheat, or even betray one another just to hang on to what is worthless in the first place. And, of course, when their cowardice is exposed, they lose the power, prestige, money, and popularity that they endeavored to save with their perfidy!
Peter had started down this road earlier in the Gospel of John. His brashness and bravura had gotten him in trouble with The Master before, when he said, "I will follow you to the death!". Throughout all four Gospels we have read about Peter blurting out the wrong thing, but he was usually motivated by devotion rather than fear. Now we see him being afraid to stand by Jesus even among the servants, who would have no power over him anyway.
You may wonder, "Why would Jesus allow Peter to go through this...and then have it recorded in the Gospels to shame him for all time? Couldn't He have just given Peter REAL courage, (not that of cutting off some poor servant's ear!), to inspire us for all these centuries? After all, Peter was a de-facto leader of the Apostles. Why couldn't he have been a HERO?"
John tells us in the course of his Gospel that there are many more things that went on that even a whole library of books could not contain them. We have witnessed in the last few weeks how many people who have been elected as our leaders have sacrificed Truth, Justice, and Common Sense because they were afraid of losing power, prestige, money, and mere popularity.
Some of their "performances" have been embarrassing and cringe-worthy. Others have surprised us, stepped up to the plate, and risked losing their positions by taking the high road. Some have paid for this already with violence and slander aimed at them and their families. And, in the end, Truth has emerged victorious.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance..” Psalm 33 NASB
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS