ENLARGE YOUR HEART TO COVER THE WHOLE WORLD!

21st JULY 2022

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” – I Timothy 2:1-5

Sometime ago, I asked us the following questions; How do you feel when calamity befalls others across the world? Do you feel for the families of the deceased? How do you feel when terrorists attack a community and wipe out everyone like you commonly find in North-Eastern Nigeria or presently in Ukraine? Do you always yearn for God to be merciful to everyone, especially those directly involved?  Have you taken out time to think about the pains of the many new widows, widowers, and fatherless and motherless? Today, I want us to realise with a deep sense of empathy that those are tragic experiences. They show in many ways that people are suffering around the world.

The world is a global village, and we are all citizens of the world, linked together by the Spirit of God. What touches one touch all. We have responsibilities toward making sure that the world is fit for our habitation. Caring for one another irrespective of Nationalities, Faith and Creed was Jesus’s delight; hence the Master taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Paul is also saying to us today to pray for all men! Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that not only that your neighbour is good and fine, but you also have a global responsibility to ensure that everyone in the world is fine and good!  Therefore, you must join in the struggle to reduce all human-made risks and calamities capable of endangering life in our world, especially human lives and nature.  Nature has to be kept evergreen so we can eat well and breathe pure air. Without that, the world may go into extinction. Today’s word says you must henceforth pray for the whole world; the travellers, the sick, the world’s leadership, schools, Armed forces, All government Agencies and the whole world in general. If the world is safe, then you are safe.

 It is right to pray for a city and its residents whose lives have been ripped apart by a catastrophe, human-made or natural. God is moved when He sees us moved by the pain and suffering occurring around us, and not just that affecting our immediate circle of family and friends. If your neighbour and all humans are good and fine, then you are also good and fine. Your prayers and meditation for the whole world bounce back at you a million-fold, much more effective than praying for yourself.

Your true power over negativity and adverse situations is in your prayers for the entire world and not for yourself in particular. This is because every prayer you say comes back to you a million-fold. If you pray for one million people, one million people’s prayers will come back to you.  If you pray for one billion people, one billion people’s prayers will come back to you, and so on.  Your prayers for others will go ahead of you to right every wrong for you, your family and your generations!

Praying for others is a sacrifice that does not fail. God demonstrated this when He permitted Jesus to be bruised and chastised for our sake. Remember, the scripture tells us that Jesus made a huge sacrifice, not for Israel alone, BUT for the whole world.  In the end, Jesus gained the crown.

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask that your peace abides with the whole world today. Grant succour to all men who are currently suffering this day. Lord Jesus Christ, I ask that you cause your face to shine upon the wounded and those bruised by attacks of ignorance. Thank you, father, for strengthening your children by the power of your grace. AMEN.

FURTHER READING:  Matthew 5:44-45