Praying that the Remnant of Believers in Jesus Remains Faithful, and Grows

Political turmoil is nothing new. As I have recently read through 1 Samuel in my daily devotions, I am learning again about one of the leaders of Israel, King Saul. As king, Saul strayed from following God’s path. Saul also sought the destruction of his rival, King David. This sounds to me somewhat similar to much of today’s political rancor, except that David, at least, fervently sought to follow His Lord. In fact, David actually DID follow God’s guidance many times, rather than following his own natural desires.

I have shared in past devotions that, among those for whom I pray, I pray daily for our country and for our leaders by name. Some of my prayers have remained the same for decades. But in the last few months I have added a new prayer. Every day, as I pray for our country, my prayer is that “the remnant of believers will remain faithful and will grow.”

In Scriptures the term ‘remnant’ refers to a minority of believers who remain faithful when much of the rest of the world around them is turning away from the Lord. When the Assyrians were laying siege to Jerusalem, King Hezekiah begged Isaiah, “Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives." (2 Kings 19:4). As the nation of Israel, including the tribe of Judah, turned away from faith, Isaiah prophesied more about the remnant, and even pointed to the coming Messiah. “30 Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (2 Kings 19:30-31.)

God refers to His remnant over 60 times in the Old Testament, especially through the writings of His prophets. In the book of Isaiah we read, “20 In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 21 A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.” (Isaiah 10:20-21) You see, this remnant are those who remain faithful to the Lord when everyone else is turning away.

I don’t want to talk primarily about political policies, but I do want to talk faith. As our country turns more and more away from believing in God, turns away from the 10 commandments, turns away from honor, from the Lord, there are still those who remain faithful. It is a blessing for a country to have righteous laws and leaders and citizens. Proverbs 14:34 teaches, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” I am praying for faithfulness in the children of God.

In addition, when praying for our country I do not just speak to our Lord concerning political leaders or decisions. I also pray that Christian congregations remain a faithful witness to our nation. More important than any political policies, when God’s children remain faithful they bear witness to the wisdom, to the power, and to the love of God. As God’s children remain faithful they point others to Jesus, to the promised Messiah who gave His life so that the remnant may live in God’s grace, and may live forever, even as the nations of this world turn from God.

I am thankful that, like in the Old Testament, God has a remnant today who “truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” When we cannot trust human leaders, nor the decisions of nations, we can trust the One who gave His life for us. So I pray daily that “the remnant of believers will remain faithful and will grow.”