Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as it is also with you.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Many of us in these days are deeply concerned about the direction of this country, as we certainly should be when we see the flood of lawlessness and the tearing down of every moral norm in our society (cf. Ps. 119:136; I consider this situation in my book, Lawlessness, the Left, & the Antichrist. If you want to get an idea of what the book is about, you can download the Introduction on this page.)

It is what the Apostle Paul himself warned us about more than 1,900 years ago:

The mystery of lawlessness is already at work….
— 2 Thessalonians 2:7

We may hope and pray that Satan’s work in the political realm will be checked, but ultimately, the answer to this dire situation does not lie there. Rather, what needs to happen is for the believers in Christ stand more firmly for Christ and His kingdom. Then we will be the “salt of the earth,” as the Lord said, to check the corruption in society around us, and “the light of the world” to enlighten the people of this country even in such a dark time (Matt. 5:13-14).

One thing in particular we can do, to be very practical about it, is to pray for the Lord’s word to go forth again in America in a strong, prevailing way. In this regard I have recently noticed, and been impressed by, the apostle’s exhortation for us to pray

…that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Have you really noticed this Bible verse before? I hardly did. And have you answered the apostle’s call to pray in this way?

Surely the darkness of these times, when we’re all concerned about how the Bible is losing its authority in society and the gospel seems so limited, should motivate us to such prayer! It has been almost exactly 100 years since the “Monkey Trial” of 1924 did so much to discredit the Bible in the minds of many Americans; now is the time for the Lord’s word to once again “run and be glorified!” in this country!

It may be that I’m stirred up about this now because I happen to be reading a very good, short biography of John Wycliffe, who is often called “the Morning Star of the Reformation” (c. 1328-1384; unfortunately, the biography I have appears to be out of print, and is only available used, but you can find good sketches of his life online.)

His greatest work was to translate the Bible into the language of the common people. That had a huge impact on the course of English history, helping that nation become a beacon of freedom and the rule of law, and such a bulwark for the evangelical faith throughout the world, for so many centuries. And we must believe that if God’s word goes forth again in this country, it can still have that same effect.

Do we see the rising tide of sin, lawlessness, corruption, and all kinds of disorder in this country? How we need to pray, “Lord, may Your word run and be glorified” in America! We cannot blame sinners for sinning, but we can hope and pray and expect that the Lord’s word will touch them and work in them, even today, just as it always has before.

That is surely what the prophet believed, when the Lord spoke through him,

“For as the rain comes down,
and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that
goes forth from My mouth:
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish
what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing
for which I sent it.
— Isaiah 55:10-11

Lord, may Your word run and be glorified in this country in these days!

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— 25 October 2023 —