[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Monday, May 20, 2013

[Paul]

Hello and good day to all of you, no matter what time of day it is when you read this or perhaps even the next day, depending on where in this world you happen to live.  I hope that everything's going well with you.

The author of this short submission is not given, but it appeared originally in a print publication called The Tract League.  No matter what country you reside in, I hope that some of the sentiments ring positive with you, if not all of them.  The article is entitled "Blessed Is the Nation ...", rendered as follows:

God isn't welcome in our public institutions these days--not until our next crisis.

Trouble does that to people.  When security or health is threatened, we turn to God for help.

When good times return, we ignore God.

The Bible says this pattern has been in place ever since people lived.  We avoid God until we are in trouble.  The Bible has a word for that.  It's called sin.

We ignore God and His commandments at our peril.  Most of the nation's problems are rooted in our choice to ignore God and His desires and how we should live.

The Bible says that God is going to have the last word on our nation.  He will destroy us if we continue in our sin.  The Bible clearly shows that He has done it to many other nations throughout history.

God longs for us to repent, to turn from our selfishness, and to follow Him in obedience.  This is the path to blessing.

When we seek Him in good times and bad, He never turns away.  In His mercy, He has provided a solution to our personal and national sin.  He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take the judgment for our sin upon Himself so that everyone who repents and trusts in Him has his sins washed clean.

When we put our trust in God, we learn how to govern ourselves, our families, and our nation.  We learn what it is to be blessed.  The Bible says:  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

If you are ready to submit to God's desires for you and your family, use this prayer to tell Him.

"Dear God, forgive me and forgive our nation for trying to live without You.  I accept and believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for all my sins.  I repent of my sins and ask that You will help me to follow Your desires for personal, family and national life.  Amen."

If you want to learn more about God's desires for you, read the Gospel of John, talk to a Christian, and visit a Bible-teaching church.  You will be warmly welcomed.

Short as it was and with the last part elementary to most of us, I hope that you enjoyed reading this article.

And now until tomorrow when, Lord willing another daily thought will be presented, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Oil of Gladness