This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Stormproof – Election Earthquakes (CLICK HERE)
Psalm 33:10-12 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
The conviction every Christian can have is this. The greatest blessings come when we follow the Word and ways of the Lord. Period.
To be sure, God has an amazing way of “working all things for our good,” yet he has given us his Word not only to bless us with eternal life, but to bless us as we go through life.
This truth is not to carry any intention of a “prosperity gospel,” i.e. that if you follow Jesus you will have all the wealth you want, all the health you want, and have all the pleasures of this world. No, that is not the point.
The point is that God blesses those that walk in his ways. Consider the opening verse of Psalm 1: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
The simple truth is this. God blesses those who follow him.
Is this true of government as well?
According to Psalm 33, it is. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
One can look to Old Testament Israel and realize that the kings who understood they operated under the authority of the Lord and were to lead the people in a way that reflected they were a servant of the Lord versus a king for themselves saw blessing and prosperity in the land and nation of Israel. The kings that reigned contrary to the Lord and gave laws that led people away from the Lord, the nation struggled and experienced hardship.
To be sure, Israel was a unique nation in the world at the time. They were a theocracy that moved to a monarchy. That monarchy was to rule the people in a way that reflected the theocracy the Lord had established.
So what about the United States?
We are not a theocracy. We are a democratic republic. We have a government that rules by the people and for the people.
But the principle applies. Wherever people appear and seek to walk in the counsel of the Lord versus the counsel of the wicked, that person can expect to see the Lord bless that. When a person who has been given a charge of leadership leads in a way that walks in the ways of the Lord, the people they lead may experience blessings they wouldn’t have otherwise.
The same is true for a leader of a family, a village, a city, a county, a state or a country. A civic leader who seeks to serve and not be served carries the heart of Christ in leadership. A civic leader who understands they steward power as a gift from God will do better at avoiding egocentric power grabs. A leader who understands the value of life and a morality or the difference between good and evil will govern in a way that honors the basic moral code the Lord has given. A leader who is a Chrisitan will seek to surround him/herself with wise counsel that leads in ways of righteousness, not paths of evil.
To lead in our government as a Christian is a privilege and truly a challenge. Pray for all Christians who have been elected to offices of high trust. They must navigate their revere for the Lord and following in his ways and the laws of the land that may allow certain things that aren’t godly. They are not there to legislate Christianity on people, but are there, like Esther of the Old Testament, for “such a time as this.”
Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul encouraged:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Apply: Take time today to pray for all governing officials you know by name or by position. Ask the Lord to surround them with wise counsel and a reverence for the position they hold that they may steward it in a way that is honoring to the Lord and blessing to those they lead.
Prayer: Lord we pray for all our governing officials, but especially for those that honor you and seek to lead in a way that stewards the gift of governance you have given them. Surround their hearts with a protection from evil and surround their counsel with wisdom that comes from you. Let their light shine in the office they have so that your name is glorified and your people are blessed. AMEN.