National Bible President Richard Glickstein attended this year’s National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Here are his reflections:
Each year, the Senate and House Prayer Groups host the National Prayer Breakfast and the President is invited to speak. It is meant as a nonpartisan gathering to lift our nation and President in prayer and to hear from our Commander in Chief. Along with the President, an invited speaker shares the podium. I find it an honor to attend the event to add my voice to this prayer gathering.
This year, one of the highlights for me was the honest and comical relationship between this year’s co-hosts, Rep. Janice Hahn (liberal Democrat) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (conservative Republican). Honestly sharing that relating to each other leading the House Prayer Group while having opposite political views has stretched them significantly but that they both could honestly say that they love each other. Now I have the advantage of knowing them personally and I would have to say that it’s true. They stated that they were able to rise to the occasion because of what they have read in the Bible.
Jesus said that “loving one another” was the supreme act demonstrating that he come to the earth. He did not say to just love those who agree with you. That my friends would be easy: He said to love your enemies. Loving those who don’t agree with you takes the love of God. The Bible says that this is our great calling. If Democrats and Republicans can find the power to love one another though the scriptures, there is hope for all of us.