Today's Devotional is written by Pastor Roy Summers
The Litmus Test of any People
In the eyes of God, the test of any individual or group of people or nation is their righteous behaviour. And in Scripture, that includes the heart. Indeed Scriptural righteousness abides in the heart and then makes its way out to life. So we are encouraged to guard our hearts for they are the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).
Nations and peoples judge themselves very differently. They judge themselves by how "woke" they are, by how wealthy they are and by how educated they are, and how well they (think) they are governed. But God says, in our memory verse for the day:
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
Our Western Nations
Western nations, who have been so deeply privileged by Gospel influence in past centuries often think of themselves better than their non-western counterparts, and even go to war to help "sort out" those poor uncivilised folk; if need be, by removing their "wicked" leaders.
But are western nations, in the eyes of the Lord, any better than their non-western counterparts? Most probably not.
Western nations tolerate the killing of millions of unborn human beings each year - in the name of all things, human rights. In western nations as many idols are worshipped as you will find in any Hindu temple. Idols of pleasure, idols of money, idols of fame, sport.... Western nations have been at the forefront of advocating immorality of all kinds including homosexual sin; we are guilty of confusing the world over something as simple and straightforward as male and female. We have arrogantly imagined that only one form of government is the way to rule a nation, and in our arrogance judged nations who do not run by democracy.
And our guilt is compounded because we have turned our back on the truth. It is one thing to be an ignorant Sodom and Gomorrah, it is another thing to know that sin is wrong and yet boast about it and spread it by propaganda.
By the standards of God, we are a disgrace.
The Gospel Alone
There is no human solution to the problem of sin. Our memory verse just presents the stark diagnosis. The only way a nation can be changed is by preaching the Gospel and making disciples of all nations. This is how the Gospel changed the Roman empire and how it has changed individuals and then nations since.
So our response to the terrible verdict of God, that we live in a disgraceful nation, is to preach the Gospel. It sounds simple, but the true Gospel will always raises stiff opposition because it addresses unrighteousness with the demand to repent. From the very first sermon ever preached "repent and believe" to every revival sermon since, "change the way you live" has been the core demand of all Gospel preaching. So though it is God's answer to godless nations, the Gospel requires courage to preach it.
Summing it all Up
This may seem to be a strange devotional for difficult days, but having this memory verse in our minds will keep us from imagining - especially we in the west - that we live in upright nations. It will keep us from arrogance and teach us to pray for revival.
But it will also remind us of our need to repent of our own sins, for what is true of nations is true of every individual within that nation. The Lord wants his people to live upright holy lives, by the power of his Spirit, in fellowship with their brothers and sisters, by the grace of his Word. To live in unrepentant sin is a disgrace; to live an upright life, by the Spirit's power alone is life and peace.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
Let's make this personal and ask the Lord to make us holy.
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
William Longstaff
You can sing it HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our merciful Father in heaven,
We pray for the nation we live in. You have reminded us of the way you judge nations, and how different from the way they judge themselves! Help us to see with your eyes the wickedness of our nation and the disgrace we are in your eyes.
Then teach us to pray for the Gospel to flourish. We pray for evangelists and pastors and churches as they share the Gospel with the lost. Help us to play our part in giving our money to share this news and letting our own light shine in this dark world.
And help us to live upright and godly lives.
We ask this in Jesus' Name,
Amen
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