PASTOR JOE’S DEVOTION WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK!

Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord.
Because the People Have Chosen God as Their Lord.
Psalm 33:12, 144:15

     Do you want this nation to be blessed; people prospering in their health, in their relationships, in their minds, in their finances, etc…? Not living in sickness and disease, in poverty, in anxiety and depression, in fear, in war, etc…? Then you must bring forth truth and put it in perspective. A nation is not blessed because it has a special piece of land, special resources, located in a special place, or offers a great number of government programs. A nation is blessed because the hearts of the people have chosen to honor and do God’s Word; see 2 Chronicles 7:14. Therefore, the fruit of obedience to God’s Word blesses those people with wisdom, health, peace, victory, finances, etc… It is people who choose to follow God’s direction on how to live that causes a nation to be blessed and prosper; see Deuteronomy 28:2, Exodus 23:25, Jeremiah 17:7, James 1:19-27, John 15, and 3 John 2.
     It is individual people, not nations, who choose to make God the Lord, OR NOT, of their lives. If individuals within a nation make God the Lord of their lives, then God can begin to turn that nation back to the ways of God. Psalm 33:12 says that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Who is this nation and who has the Lord chosen as His own inheritance?
     They are those of all ages who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; see Acts 4:12, John 3:16, Ephesians 1:7. Those who have chosen to not live by their appetites, desires, and passions, but have chosen to follow the ways of God according to His Word; forgiving those who offend them, praying for those who take advantage of them, giving thanks in everything rather than grumbling and complaining, who choose to say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me rather than it is in my DNA or my family history; see Jeremiah 32:27, Galatians 5:24, Philippians 4:13.
     The Bible says that the people who choose to follow the ways of God are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that live His Word and proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light; see John 14:21, 1 Peter 2:9-11. They choose to daily live the Word of God.
     Are you living in the light of God’s Word, His truth that brings life? The only long term hope of man on earth is not a nation or government, medicine, job, or government program, but the Lord Jesus Christ. Choose to bless this nation by accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and follow His Word; see John 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105.
     The Word of God tells us that there are great benefits for those who choose to follow Him; forgiveness, provision, health and healing, protection, restored life, abundant life, peace, victory, etc…, 1 John 1:9, Matthew 6:33, Psalm 103, Psalm 91, John 15, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Exodus 23:25, John 10:10, John 3:17, Psalm 34:7 and many more promises.
     Make a decision to get into the Word of God (the Bible) today and ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will; see Psalm 25:14, Matthew 7:7. Jesus said in John 14:21 that “He who has my Word and keeps it is the one who truly loves Me and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” Make a decision to seek Him and live for Him today!
     WARNING: You must realize that you will give account of the life you live on this earth. You will be rewarded for the deeds done in this body and you will give account for every idle word you have spoken. Change your future today! See 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:6, Revelation 20:12, Matthew 12:36.