The United States of America is my home. Many of my readers are also from America. It’s a beautiful place – it’s mostly peaceful, there’s freedom, and in the central region, it’s not that crowded compared to large cities that are popular along the coast (I’ve heard!).
I feel like in the modern (American) church, many of the body believe that America is blessed by God, that this is His chosen nation or something. I don’t feel that way though. I think we’re highly privileged. I know that just as an American, I take this standard of living for granted. Not many nations compare to this standard at all. We have just about everything and we’re constantly angered at simple things that don’t go our way, politically or with the supply chain issues lately.
I think God has blessed this nation in some way, but much like some characters in the Bible, Americans (then and now) have taken that blessing from someone else and then take it for granted. Our freedom… our blessing… isn’t free.
It seems to me that America has received its reward on this side of Heaven. At any moment, that could be taken though. What will the people do? Is this all we have?
The blessing it seems we have here in this nation is only by God’s grace and mercy. It’s a gift, but we are not in the promised land. This is not our home.
Will this land be where Jesus will come back?
Our true freedom and blessing will come when we enter Heaven. God promises His believers all throughout the Scriptures.
I’ve been thinking about the devastation actively occurring in Ukraine.
What would stop someone (a nation) from attacking our nation? Sure – we (as a nation) are powerful, but if God allowed such a thing to happen, it’s possible that the same fate could befall us as well. Are we ready to be under attack?
I hope it doesn’t happen, at least while I’m alive on earth, but if it does, my hope and faith lies in someone greater than the war that ravages the earth among man.
I think we’re so used to things not happening here that we forget that decades, centuries ago almost, war ravaged our great land as well. Battles were fought, some lost and some won, on our land, especially in the south. Maybe we have a large military force to prevent these things now, but what’s really stopping these things from happening? Sometimes I wonder.
My senior and associate pastors spoke up about the things happening overseas and how the church is responding.
The church body in Ukraine is turning sanctuaries into shelters. Many people are fleeing while others are returning to fight for their homeland. Can you just imagine..?
We believe that it’s possible that some in Russia are fighting unwillingly. They feel they have no option but to be on the frontlines – fighting a country they don’t want to be fighting.
We should continue to pray for both sides.
This past week, verse of the day on the Bible app was this:
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:6-7
I’m sure this was intentional by Life.Church. The verses lately have been pretty spot-on, but this one seemed to fit or hit me in a different way.
Seek the Lord while you can find him.
The peace America has right now is surely temporary. The peace we find in Jesus is eternal and is possible when we surrender to Him. I hope and pray that the Ukrainians can find the peace of Jesus through all the chaos and destruction. They desperately need His strength to endure.
I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
I hope you find peace and strength this week as you faithfully pray for our brothers and sisters in other nations under attack to do the same.