I will admit that I am very thankful and blessed to live within these United Sates of America. I have lived my entire life in a land where I enjoyed freedom. I realize that I was greatly blessed to hear the Gospel message at a young age, being born again in Christ Jesus at age eleven. Our land is becoming increasingly violent, but most of us have the privilege of attending worship services without any thought of physical harm coming to us. I have never feared attending the house of God.
There are those who would argue with me, but when one takes the time to study US history, it is unmistakably clear that America was founded on biblical values and Christian principles. The worship of our Lord was encouraged and practiced by countless prominent figures in the founding of our nation. It is evident that we have been blessed beyond measure.
However, I am beginning to see an America that I do not recognize. Rather than a nation that seeks to promote and encourage the worship of Christ, we are seeing many in places of authority and influence that seek to discourage and even hinder that worship. We have become a nation that worships an economy and the material treasure that it brings.
In my childhood, the majority of my classmates at least attended church on Sunday. That isn't to say all of them were saved, but they were taken to church. Those who identified with the Lord, and were unashamed to admit that, were a majority. My how things have changed in the past thirty years. Our churches are in decline and the world is growing increasingly wicked at an alarming rate. I am blessed to live in the southeast, the "Bible Belt," but even here things are changing rapidly, and not for the better.
I have had a passage of Scripture on my heart this week, and have even come across it several times while reading other materials. Please take a moment to read these verses.
Psalm 33:12-22
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. [13] The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. [14] From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. [15] He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. [16] There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. [17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
The Pslamist declares that the nation whose God is the LORD is blessed. I realize that this was written to the nation of Israel, the people whom God had chosen, but there are truths within these verses that apply to us as well. God sees our great land, from coast to coast. He has blessed us with abundance. He knows our hearts and their desires. He knows what drives us, what our passions are. He knows where we place our trust. I fear that most are like those revealed in Vv.16-17, those who put their trust in men, material possessions, and even the advanced American military. (Now don't get angry and think that I am ungrateful for the sacrifice of all who serve and have served in our Armed Forces. I am thankful and seek to pray for them every day, but I do realize that it is God who keeps us.)
We desperately need the heart of the Psalmist. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. He is our hope; He is our help; He is our shield. We need the mercy of God upon our land. We need His guidance in these difficult days. We need those in leadership who will seek the Lord and desire to govern according to His Word. If we don't soon turn to the LORD and seek His face, He may very well leave us to ourselves and allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin and rebellion. My hope is not in Wall Street, the halls of Congress, or within the White House; my hope is in the Lord of my salvation!
Preacher Chris
There are those who would argue with me, but when one takes the time to study US history, it is unmistakably clear that America was founded on biblical values and Christian principles. The worship of our Lord was encouraged and practiced by countless prominent figures in the founding of our nation. It is evident that we have been blessed beyond measure.
However, I am beginning to see an America that I do not recognize. Rather than a nation that seeks to promote and encourage the worship of Christ, we are seeing many in places of authority and influence that seek to discourage and even hinder that worship. We have become a nation that worships an economy and the material treasure that it brings.
In my childhood, the majority of my classmates at least attended church on Sunday. That isn't to say all of them were saved, but they were taken to church. Those who identified with the Lord, and were unashamed to admit that, were a majority. My how things have changed in the past thirty years. Our churches are in decline and the world is growing increasingly wicked at an alarming rate. I am blessed to live in the southeast, the "Bible Belt," but even here things are changing rapidly, and not for the better.
I have had a passage of Scripture on my heart this week, and have even come across it several times while reading other materials. Please take a moment to read these verses.
Psalm 33:12-22
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. [13] The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. [14] From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. [15] He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. [16] There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. [17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
The Pslamist declares that the nation whose God is the LORD is blessed. I realize that this was written to the nation of Israel, the people whom God had chosen, but there are truths within these verses that apply to us as well. God sees our great land, from coast to coast. He has blessed us with abundance. He knows our hearts and their desires. He knows what drives us, what our passions are. He knows where we place our trust. I fear that most are like those revealed in Vv.16-17, those who put their trust in men, material possessions, and even the advanced American military. (Now don't get angry and think that I am ungrateful for the sacrifice of all who serve and have served in our Armed Forces. I am thankful and seek to pray for them every day, but I do realize that it is God who keeps us.)
We desperately need the heart of the Psalmist. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. He is our hope; He is our help; He is our shield. We need the mercy of God upon our land. We need His guidance in these difficult days. We need those in leadership who will seek the Lord and desire to govern according to His Word. If we don't soon turn to the LORD and seek His face, He may very well leave us to ourselves and allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin and rebellion. My hope is not in Wall Street, the halls of Congress, or within the White House; my hope is in the Lord of my salvation!
Preacher Chris