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Monday, July 6, 2015
A prophetic people can prevail
I spent this past weekend in the place of my roots, Northeastern Ohio. From Thursday through Sunday night, there were Fourth of July celebrations. Young kids dressed in red, white and blue, stars and stripes swimming trunks, teens wearing USA baseball caps, young men and women in patriotic clothing, and of course us older folks with our own brand of patriotism. There is something good about patriotism, about nationalism for America. Throughout the weekend, in most every conversation with folks young and old alike, there were conversations about God, Country and Family. I say this because there is so much bad news about America, but there really is so much good about it within the grass roots.
My son, my wife, one of his friends from college, and I sat around a fire talking about the nation and how it has strayed from God. We talked about Jesus Christ and the necessity of having Him at the center of our lives. We talked about how the Church has given up so much ground to the government and is not effective in teaching the Word of God or holding people accountable to what is right; how it has become a country club in many cases looking inward with self-indulgence and extra-biblical teachings. We talked about consequences of bad leadership and how that contrasts with the judgment of God. We discussed the deep challenges faced by the current generation–not from the perspective of fear, but of hope.
If a boat ride around Portage Lakes is any indicator, there were many other conversations taking place about the condition of our country and its citizens. America is still alive, it’s not on life support. There is still a spirit of ’76, that revolutionary spirit that defined freedom and equality, fomented worldwide evangelism, and established a beacon of hope for those oppressed around the world. Hope. That’s part of what it is about. We have to have hope that we can turn all this around. And we have to act. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” If we have hope, the substance of that is faith. It starts with each of us individually. We have to have faith.
There us much written about the coming persecution and the failing of America. While things look bleak, we need to focus on the good within us and around us. We need to start today. If 12 men did what was claimed in Acts 17:6, what can we do? With our faith, the substance of our hope, can we too, turn the world upside down? Yes we can. Believe the good report. Be as Christ said in his Sermon on the Mount “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light unto all that are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Wilson and www.dailyjot.com