Pray for the City

I love the city.  How many times have you said that or heard somebody say that?  Or have you said it yourself?  What does it mean when somebody says "I love the city"?  Typically it means that the person loves what the city has to offer- museums, restaurants, sports, the arts, or the multicultural mix. On the contrary, you may also hear people say, "I hate the city."  What is it that they don't like?  Traffic, crime, pollution, or too many people!

In today's reading, it seemed as though Abraham loved the city of Sodom, or at least the people in it.  When he heard about God's plan to destroy Sodom, he began to plead its case.  But notice how Abraham prayed to God.  He did not ask God to spare it because of the great things that the city had to offer.  He prayed for the people. 

For us in ministry, this is who we are to pray for.  Notice that Abraham's prayer was never so narrow that he just prayed for his relatives.  In our prayers, we often pray for our family, friends, and church family.  But our vision needs to be bigger.  We need to pray for those around us.  In the city, the people around our church might be some rough characters.  But they are rough characters for whom Christ died and for whom he rose. 

I pray that our love for the city goes beyond the superficial.  I hope that we would look at the city and see the people who need to escape the chains of destruction by  a sinful life.  I hope that you see the people for whom Christ died so that they can be free.  I hope that you pray for the churches in the city so that continue to be concerned for those around them and bring them the message that can set them free.  Please pray that the righteous people would fulfill their calling and share the message of the God who gives them life.