Our nation is a few days away from celebrating another birthday. In our neighborhood, American flags line the streets. It’s the time of the year that many families come together to grill steaks, burgers, and hot dogs, travel to the beach for a long weekend, or enjoy one of the many local or regional firework displays. I’m sure that we’ll hear Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the U.S.A” a few times this week, too.
The recent Supreme Court decision regarding marriage has challenged us to consider our country’s past, present, and future. It’s apparent that our nation and churches need to experience a heaven-sent revival and spiritual awakening. May you and I pray the heart-cry of Ps. 85:4-7: “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.”
As our nation faces troubling days, and as God’s people, how are you and I expected to live?
- Pray – I challenge us to pray for our nation, political leaders, churches, and people blinded to the truth. Let’s never forget that prayer (talking with God) makes a difference!
- Study – You and I need to know the mind of Christ. I appeal for us to invest time in God’s Word every day. You and I need to know and practice what God says. May our Bibles never collect dust or be used solely as a decoration piece on a coffee table.
- Share – If there’s ever an hour that we need to share good news (the Gospel), it’s now! In love, may you and I share Jesus’ sinless life, His sacrificial death, His glorious resurrection, and His call to follow Him with family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and fellow citizens! God forbid that you and I would be silent in this critical hour!
- Trust – Trust is a major need in our day. God is sovereign and still in control! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8)! As leaders in our nation make decisions that violate biblical principles, we need to be faithful and trust God to work in the midst of our chaos. Our God is faithful and His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).
- Repent – Repentance is a prominent word in the Old and New Testaments. The biblical principle of repentance applies to non-believers, believers, churches, and nations. Pointing out the sins of a nation calls us to seek the Holy Spirit about sins in our own lives. As you and I confess our sins and repent, we can’t begin to comprehend what God will do in our nation. “God, as we pray, humble ourselves, seek your face, and turn from our wicked ways, may you hear us from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land” (2 Chron. 7:14)!
- Love – Our church’s vision is to make disciples that love God, one another, and people in Tallahassee and around the world. It’s impossible to reach our city and nation for Jesus without love. Reaching people outside of Christ calls us to remember God’s love. While we were messed-up, rebellious, and away from the Lord, the Bible reveals that God loved us (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). Let’s relate to people and speak God’s truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
May you and your family have a safe and special holiday weekend! As you and I see flags and fireworks the next few days, let’s celebrate America’s birthday, thank God for the brave men and women serving our country, and stand in the gap for a nation in crisis!
Praying for Revival,
Pastor Ronny
Eph. 3:20-21