Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The Lord Rules Over the Nations
For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22:28 NLT)
Political commentators would have you believe that something significant happens in the power structure of a nation following an election. If an incumbent is reelected, it solidifies that party’s hold on the reins of power. It’s seen as an endorsement of current policies and leadership tactics. If a challenger is elected, it’s seen as a mandate for sweeping change.
Either way, a sizable portion of the voting population will be unhappy with the result. Some will be extremely unhappy. And they’ll look for scapegoats. It’s very easy in our polarized society today, especially in an election year, to view anyone who disagrees with us as our mortal enemy. We cringe at the idea of their having power or influence in the world. But as believers, we should never think of someone who holds a different view from ours or someone who doesn’t have our faith as an enemy.
Those aren’t the battles we should be fighting. We don’t take our marching orders from party leaders or media personalities. And the truth is that, after an election, nothing really changes in the power structure of the country. Psalm 22:28 says, “For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations” (NLT). These words can’t be amended. Power always belongs to the Lord. He rules the nations. He rules our nation. That’s why we still have hope, no matter what the election results are.
It’s not unpatriotic to point out that every nation has a shelf life. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years. Rome lasted around nine centuries. The United States is 248 years old and counting. Only God knows how many more years this nation will exist. The days of every nation are numbered. Isaiah 40:15 says that “all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales” (NLT).
Revelation 15:3 says, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (NLT). God is the true King of every nation, and He reigns for eternity. Unlike human leaders, He is sovereign. He will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes. Regardless of who wins an election, our responsibility as believers is to do God’s will and to trust Him. He doesn’t want political retribution. (And even if He did, He’s infinitely more capable of dishing it out than we are.)
Our sovereign God wants us to reach out to our so-called enemies. He wants us to be lights in their lives. He wants them to see Christ in us. He wants us to share the truth of the gospel with them. He wants us to truly care about their well-being—to embrace an attitude of humility and concern. He wants us to be ambassadors of His love. He wants us to help them experience His forgiveness and grace. He wants us to fill His kingdom with as many people as possible.
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Sometimes as believers we substitute work for worship. We are so busy doing Christian things with Christian people in the Christian church that we forget about Christ. And then one day we’re suddenly feeling overwhelmed and burned out.
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God changes us. As we’re feasting at His table having fellowship with Him, we no longer want the table scraps of the world. We don’t become immune to temptation, but we’re no longer drawn to the world like we used to be.
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When you put your trust in Christ, not only does He forgive you of your sins, but He also puts His righteousness in your spiritual account, so to speak. Your account is full.
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When we have really blown it, when we have sinned, that is the time when we should call on the Lord. That is the time when we need to get help from God and His people.
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It is not for us to edit the message of the Bible. It is for us as Christians to simply deliver it.
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Wherever God’s people gather together, that place turns into a sanctuary. That’s because the church is not a building; it is people.
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Peter got things turned around. He was sleeping when he should have been praying and fighting when he should have been surrendering.
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If you think you’re living a secret life, it is no secret to God. You may be fooling people. You may put on a good performance as Judas Iscariot did. But the reality is that God knows. And God will forgive you if you repent.
06/28/2024
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Much of our prayer has no power in it because there is no heart in it. If we put so little heart into our prayers, then we can’t expect God to put much heart into answering them.
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Bring what you have. God can take it, bless it, and use it to touch many. What makes a gift great in God’s service is not the magnitude of the gift. It is into whose hands the gift is given.
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One day that which is hidden will be revealed. There will be nowhere to hide. And you’ll realize the only person you were effectively fooling was yourself. God is giving you an opportunity today to come clean, to get right with Him. Don’t be a fake Christian.
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Even if some liberal theologians don’t believe it, the devil believes that we are living in the end times. So, he is stepping up his efforts.
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God has a plan for life. You have a sphere of influence, people whom God wants you to touch.
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If you are Christian, then you are born again. And if you are not born again, then you are not a Christian.
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The most important thing of all is what will happen to us beyond the grave. But if we wait until then to decide, it will be too late.
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He is pulling for you right now. Just as Jesus stood up for Simon, He is standing up for you.
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God is with us, whether we know it or not. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, He becomes a part of your life and promises that He never will leave you or forsake you.
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That is why Jesus went through all that anguish. He did it for all those who would come to faith in the world. We were the joy set before Him.
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Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind. In many cases, prayer is about changing our minds.
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We should reflect our heavenly Father, who is truth. And if we are reflecting Him, it should be evident in what we say and in the way that we live.
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There needs to be a balance between our beliefs and our practice, between our doctrine and the way that we live. We need both areas working together. That is what it means to walk worthy of the Lord.
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Maybe you’re facing a setback today. Maybe there’s a crisis going on in your life. Remember, you are a work in progress. You are under construction.
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We can be in a perfect environment or a horrible environment and still sin. It is just our nature. Yet God shows us what we can become by His grace.
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I believe that God has predestined every person to be saved. God wants us to be saved. He wants us to be forgiven. But the Bible also teaches that God gave us free will.
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God will be with us, no matter what we face in life. That is a great assurance. That is where we find our contentment.
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Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.