There are so many horrible disasters that are happening in the U.S.A. that are purely violence related. The most recent was the Dallas incident. It’s not the first act of violence formed from hatred that has happened on American soil and it will not be the last. This massive outbreak of hatred and violence seems to just grow to where we are no longer surprised when we hear about mass shootings on the news every week. It’s horrifying, but it is the truth. Is there no hope for America? What does America need to make all of this hatred cease?
On Sunday, I got up around 8 a.m. as I usually do, and headed to Sunday school and Church. During my Sunday school Lesson, my teacher said something that has stuck with me and I feel as if God really wants me to share it with the world: America needs grace. What is grace? It is a special word that means many things. Grace is unconditional love in that no matter the situation or action, Jesus will always love us and intercede to forgive and save us from whatever wrong we have done. Hebrews 7:25 states, “Wherefore He is able to also save them to the uttermost that came unto God by Him, and seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Grace is a continuous action of beautiful forgiveness that spreads. I describe this type of forgiveness as beautiful because it has the power to soften the hearts of the wicked. It spreads because once grace has been bestowed upon you, it changes you forever. It is then that you are more willing to bestow grace upon someone else, and the chain will forever grow.
What can America do with grace? Hatred is a powerful force that is so dark that it seems as if no light could ever survive. Grace is the light that can burn up the darkness of hatred. Americans are stubborn and independent, but these things will not stop the hatred from growing and can even worsen the situation. Many of us have become so stubborn, that we can no longer reason with others. Instead, many choose to just extinguish the problem with violence and be done with it. This solves absolutely nothing. Grace is also compassion. If we Americans would show compassion toward each other, then we may surprise each other and melt the hatred into empathy.
Grace is an attachment to faith as well. Faith can be found in prayer. Matthew 5:43-45 states, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh the sun to rise on evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust.”
I mentioned earlier that Americans are independent; this is a good quality, but we cannot live independent from God. Jesus can help America and give us grace, but we must also turn to Him and bestow grace upon others.
The question a lot of people will shout out is, “Well, if America needs grace then why hasn’t God given us any?”
God does not come where He is not invited. Revelation 3:20 is as follows, “Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and him with Me.” Our country has turned away from God in so many ways.
My fellow Christians and I are often looked down upon because of who we are and the God that we follow. Gay marriage and abortion is another way that America has turned from God. The most recent, I have seen on Facebook, scholars are now coming up with another way to disprove the Bible by exclaiming that Noah’s ark never happened because they have “found” records of civilizations marked around that time with no records of the flood. Of course, that information is false because again, a lot of people want to disprove Christianity. This kind of attitude is expected of course; “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12.
America can find peace in God from all of this hatred and violence, but we must turn back to Him. We can do this by loving each other and trusting in Jesus Christ. After all, He is the Prince of Peace. Grace can be found in Jesus and amongst each other. America needs grace. Will you be on your knees today praying for grace?
