Blessed Nation_Psalm 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; And the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. 

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine. -- Exodus 19:5

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into Him marvelous light. --1 Peter 2:9

While there are many nations on this earth, the only nation that matters is the 'holy nation'. It is a collective group of people who choose God as LORD, who call upon His name, as Seth did way back in Genesis 5:26 all the way up to today.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.

And just whom does God choose for His own inheritance? Those who obey His voice when He speaks and keep or follow His Word. As Jesus said when He began to minister to the people (after overcoming temptation in the wilderness), firstly "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." And secondly, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."

First, we repent and believe, then we lead others to Jesus Christ that they, too, may repent and believe and follow. That's how a holy nation is built up. That's the generation whom God has chosen for His inheritance.

I am part of this generation. Are you? Do you want to be?

Freedom To Choose

In becoming a Christian we have chosen to surrender not only our hearts, but our very lives, to The Living God through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. As such, we have a responsibility to obey God according to His Word. We should not take this responsibility lightly, but obey it willingly.

"We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

It is because of this great love that we are able to love others, especially the unlovable. Once we thought we were unlovable. Until we came to the realization that God loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. That's Love.

Through the blood that Christ shed on the cross our sins are forgiven AND forgotten. We are healed in every way by the stripes on His back: physically, emotionally, mentally; our very soul is healed in His Name. That's Freedom.

It is not freedom To sin, but freedom From sin. Through The Word we can overcome sin and temptation. That's Power.

As Christians, people who have chosen to follow Christ and the path He walked, it is our responsibility to pray for others. Praying not just for friends and family, but their friends and families. Praying for our neighbors, whether we know them or not. Whether they are likable or not. Praying for strangers, people we may never meet, or meet once and never again.

Praying for our enemies, those who seek to destroy our faith in Christ. Praying for those who come against us in the name of their god that their eyes would be opened and they, too, would become God's called people.

Praying for God's chosen people, Israel. As Psalm 33:12 states, not only is the nation who chooses God blessed, but the people whom God has chosen are blessed. It is a dual reminder that we must not only support them with our prayers, but acknowledge that it is Israel whom God has chosen to be His own, also.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6. Whether individually, or as a nation who has chosen God, this is our responsibility to pray for Jerusalem's peace. ""Brethren (brothers and sisters in Christ), my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Romans 10:1. As the nation whose God is The Lord, this should be our desire and prayer: the salvation of Israel, God's chosen people, the people whom God has chosen for His own.

A nation without God condemns itself and is not blessed by God. If a country wants God's blessing on it, that country, that nation, needs to choose The Almighty God as her own God. But it is not enough to say, "I am a Christian". One's words must be backed by one's actions. And one's actions must be motivated by the love of God which lives in a person through Christ.

Be vigilant. Watch and pray.