Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, March 9, 2018

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord … From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind … he watches all who live on earth … [and] considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength."¹

I have read how "in Ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north so they built the great Chinese wall. It was so high they knew no one could climb over it and so thick that nothing could break it down. They settled back to enjoy their security.

"During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three times. Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over the top. Each time they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates. The Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children."² In other words they were defeated from within.

Ancient Israel trusted in its military might but turned from God and obedience to his lawsâ€"and was conquered. Ancient Rome trusted in its military might but turning to licentious living they, too, were ultimately defeated and destroyed from within. The same principle holds true for both nationsâ€"including the mighty U.S.A.â€"and individuals. If we turn from God and his way to go our own way, we too will ultimately be destroyed from within.

As God's Word reminds us, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."³

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me as an individual and us as a nation to see the folly of our ways when we turn from following your ways to go our own self-directed and sinful ways. Please send a great spiritual awakening so that we will turn back to you and make you the Lord of our life and of our nation. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 33:12-16 (NIV).
2. Sunday School Times. Cited on http://www.sermons.com/.
3. Proverbs 14:34 (NIV).

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