Wednesday, July 4, 2012

A Christian Nation

     If we truly were a Christian nation, then people from other countries and cultures, who flee their nation's governments and sanctions, would embrace Christianity as a way of life. But America is not a Christian nation.

And it never will be.

     Though the early settlers from England fled to this country to escape religious persecution in the hopes of having religious freedom, their desire to be self-governing outweighed it. Man is essentially fluid by nature. He changes sides as often as he changes clothes. His viewpoint on what is allowed and what is not seldom lines up with God's viewpoint on the same subject.

     How many of us can truthfully say that we are submissive to our government?, as stated in 1 Peter2:13-16 - "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
      And, yet, here we are, rising up against our President because we disagree with his policies. This is an election year: if you don't want him in office, vote him out. But while he is still in office, we are to pray for him. This may sound silly to most of you, but it is true. How often are you praying for God's direction in your President's decisions? I must admit, that I for one, have fallen short of this word from God. 1 Timothy 2:1,2 - "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." Sounds radical, does it not?

           Deuteronomy 28 still stands. The Word of God is for everyone; not only are the blessings of God available to those who believe and obey, but the curses of God are available for those who do not believe and who refuse to obey. It is this disobedience to God's Word and God's Will that brings the curse of God into nations and onto people. Hearing the Word of God and obeying the Word of God are two different tasks set before us. To obtain the blessings of God, a person must do both. Do you want God's will for your life? Do you want God's will for your country? Your nation?
Now is the time to get down on our knees and repent of our willfulness and selfish desires. Now is the time to seek God's face and receive God's forgiveness for the wickedness of our hearts and the blood on our hands. Today is the day of salvation and deliverance. Now is the time to pray for our leaders. The clock ticks, time passes, it is another day. O Lord, forgive us for disobeying Your Word and refusing to walk in Your Will.
      Deuteronomy 28:1,2 "And it shall come to pass, if you will listen diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that the Lord thy God will set you on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you will hear the voice of the Lord thy God." These words were spoken by Moses to the Israelites, just before Moses' death. But, remember, God's Word is still alive and vibrant. Though Israel will always be God's first love, because the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, Christ's followers (disciples) were able to spread the Gospel of salvation first to the Jewish nation, then to the outlying countries. God's people are the people who hear God's Word and obey God's Word and walk in God's laws, God's will.
     The holy nation of which God speaks does not as yet have a solid place of ground on which to build. That time is not yet. Real Christians, people who follow Christ's example and walk in God's laws, people who hear God's Word and obey God's commandments, these people make up the Christian nation, the holy nation of whom God speaks of in 1 Peter 2:9,10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,a peculiar people; that you would show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

      I want God's blessing on my life. Do you? Let us pray.

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