For the past four years Fr. Michael Birdsong has had the honor given to him by the Upson County Ministerial Association to lead the National Day of Prayer. This year he was asked instead of asking someone to bring the Gospel message to do it himself. During this time Fr. Mike challenged the city officials as well the saints with the following words.
Today we pray; that is the reason we are here. Not to be seen, not for fame, but to join with one another crossing racial and denominational lines and proclaim the goodness and grace of our Lord. We join today to seek our Heavenly Father’s face. Today we proclaim together as sons and daughters of God that we have not given up on our Nation or this City that we represent today.
As churches across this city and county just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus let us proclaim even more so that Christ is the answer for Thomaston/Upson County!
All across the media waves, one does not have a look too hard to see we face a greater fulfillment of St. Paul’s Epistle to Timothy like never before. In this scripture we read the following:
2 Timothy 3 New International Version (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.
These characteristics stand in our face each day threatening and mocking viciously the bride of our risen savior. The saddest part my brothers and sisters, St. Paul is NOT speaking to the natural world but to the church. Unfortunately, today much of the church has forsaken the calling of persons to the great grace of repentance.
Today I stand before you to not only call you to a time of prayer for this city, county, and country; but I call each of you to a time of Intimacy with our Lord. I would ask you to investigate your hearts and perform an internal inventory to ask yourself, “Have I made Christ first in my life?” And only you can answer that question.
I call today upon the Apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the pastors, and teachers. I call upon every born-again believer as they too have been given the ministry of reconciliation. I call upon the leaders of this Great City and County who has joined us here today and ask you all, “Is Christ being first served?”
This question dear saints not only must be answered but deserves to be answered. Why you ask? Listen very closely:
• To every lost sinner, lost sheep and even lost shepherd out there today, there is only one hope for your hopelessness.
• There is only one prince of peace for the pain of your past.
• There is only one advocate that can pardon and proclaim you not guilty of your hidden sin.
• There is only one who gave himself that you may live.
His name is Jesus!
I ask you today, do you know Him or just know about Him. Have you experienced the relentless love of a good, good Father?
Fr. Michael Birdsong is the Pastor/Rector of St. Michael and All Angels Church in Thomaston, GA.
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