GOD’S STANDARDS of BLESSING a NATION
July 3
Bible Reading: Proverbs Chapters 13-15
GOD’S STANDARDS of BLESSING a NATION
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to
any people."
(Prov. 14:34)
About 3,000
years ago, King Solomon penned these profound words that holds true even today.
This is God’s law stated as clearly as possible: “Righteousness exalts a nation.” What is righteousness? God has answered this through His Word: "All Your commandments are
righteousness" (Psalm 119:172). When we keep aside the commandments of
God – the divine standard that God has laid for us - we have no basis to even
know what is right and what is wrong. “Sin
is a reproach to any people.” What
is sin? Again, the Bible defines it: "Sin
is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). In other words, sin is
lawlessness, or the breaking of God’s law.
The United
States of America is celebrating Independence
Day tomorrow to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
on July 4, 1776, that declared its independence from Great Britain. This is a
good time to ponder and pray for our nation. Let us understand that God has established
the government authorities and laws to insure that society could function in
order. “Everyone must submit himself to
the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Our country is in grave danger
after having removed the ancient landmarks (Prov 22:29) and having veered away
from the godly foundations like prayer, word of God, sanctity of marriage
between a man and woman, right of life for the unborn, etc.
What should we do as God’s children who are seeing the crumbling of God’s
standards? We need to stay true to God’s
standard of Righteousness—the Word of God - we need to rely
upon the source of righteousness: the Lord Jesus Christ - we need to elect
leaders who uphold these godly standards.
All those
who believe in God and in His eternal principles are to stand out like
lighthouses on a darkened coast. This is the time when Christian example is a
most precious commodity. May we let our
lights shine in such a way that others may see the beauty and appeal of
true Christian living! May we live like
Christians and make known in every legitimate way God’s message for our
faltering world! May we also spend much
time in prayer for those whose lives are troubled - whose hearts have never
been touched by the gospel!
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14)