This week we remember the citizens we lost and the heroes who sacrificed for others in 2001. On that September 11th morning, it didn’t matter your political party or ethnic heritage, we cried and prayed together as one. We tried to encourage one another and held our first responders in highest esteem.
It seems we’ve lost much of our national unity today. I would love to see our country united, as “one nation under God.” But it’s the “under God” part that we’re losing. Rather than turning wholeheartedly in submission to God, we too often put our faith and efforts into advancing our political parties.
I believe we will not see peace in America until Americans seek peace with God individually through Jesus Christ. May we pray for this, like the Apostle Paul prayed for his fellow citizens of Israel: “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Saved from the penalty of sin, the wrath of God—eternal judgment.
Paul had such a burdened heart for his people that he wished he could be condemned as a sinner instead of them (Romans 9:3). Of course, Paul could not lose his salvation (Romans 8:1), but you can see his compassion.
He not only prayed, but boldly preached to his people about Jesus as the crucified, risen Messiah. Paul made it clear that the saving good news was for anyone who calls on the name of the Lord in faith (Romans 10:13). He told us exactly how to have peace with God: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Let us pray for America: that we would truly be indivisible, one nation under God.
