Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Matthew 22:15-22 challenges the idea of “Who are we most allegiant to? Government or Jesus?" May the notion of ultimate allegiance lead us all to prayer.

Dear Jesus, we acclaim you as "Lord," we lift up your name, and give praise for your presence among us. But we do not always live as if you were Lord. So many conflicting claims are made upon us. We want to love you, but we also want to love our families, our work, and our nation. Sometimes we don’t know how to love you as we ought. Sometimes we lay aside our love for you in order to be faithful to these more alluring allegiances.

Rule in our lives, Lord Jesus. Reign among us. Be sovereign. You have stamped upon us your image, you have created us for service to you and your kingdom, and we cannot know true happiness until we bend our lives to your purposes. Amen.

Lord hear our prayer.

Still in One Peace,

Pastor David J. Jensen