Watch the Devotion
Based on Psalm 33:12
The Nation
When my wife and I traveled to the Republic of Korea last month we toured the DMZ. On that tour we had the privilege of meeting a man who had served in the North Korean Army for 10 years. He eventually escaped and defected, making his way to South Korea. He explained the deplorable living conditions and the oppressive nature of the North Korean government. But to see the joy on his face as he described the freedoms he now enjoyed living in South Korea – a free man!
That freedom he enjoys here in South Korea are because of brave men from our United States military that fought for that freedom. That sacrifice by our US military is not lost in the hearts of South Koreans.
This is the way it has always been in these United States of America. There have always been brave men and women who have been willing to stand up and fight for independence and freedom. And 250 years later, here we are.
This weekend I’d like to challenge you. First, find a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Read it out loud. It will only take you five minutes. If you have additional 40 minutes, I’d encourage you to find a copy of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights and read them out loud. As you do, pause and think about how the Lord of creation, the Lord of lords and King of kings directs the affairs of the nations, even this one, so that we are where we are right now, in this place in history.
The second thing I’m asking you to do is to read Psalm 33. I’ll focus on verse twelve: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
Some will look at this passage and say that we as Christians need to make this nation into a Christian nation. That would be incorrect. When we read Scripture we hear God tell us that we are Christians who happen to live here, in the United States of America.
The nation that God speaks of in Psalm 33 is you. You are the nation of God. You are the people of God. You are citizens of his kingdom, bought with his blood, purchased and won by him, and brought into his kingdom. You are the inheritance he has chosen. And just happen to live in this awesome nation where we enjoy all of these freedoms.
That’s who you are. You are the nation of God. You belong to an eternal nation won by the victory of Christ. You are his inheritance.
Let’s celebrate the nation, THE nation, God’s kingdom, in which we live, while we celebrate the 250 years of the United States of America.
Prayer:
Lord of the nations, we bow before you in humility as we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. Because of your providence and grace the United States of America is a place where your people may live in peace and proclaim your truths publicly without fear of retribution. Grant your wisdom to our leaders so that your Church may flourish and we may carry out our individual vocations with joy. In your name we pray it. Amen.
Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.