This week the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence, the day our Declaration of Independence was adopted and approved. Congratulations!
Independence is a great thing when used properly. Other times, independence is taken advantage of, exploited. The same freedom used to produce significant good, can also wreak havoc and spiral into sin-filled living.
This happened repeatedly in Scripture. Nations would backslide, rebel against God, and engage in perverse behavior. Many times, God would then raise up a prophet or king to call the nation to repentance.
Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah called out a nation’s idolatry and hypocrisy. They pleaded for God’s people to acknowledge their sin, stop doing evil, and return to God.
God also used kings like Hezekiah and Josiah to encourage nations to get back on track, repent or turn from doing wrong, and live according to God’s standards.
Today, America needs a wakeup call, a call to turn to God and live right. A call to repent of our rebellious, evil ways, and put our trust and faith in God.
How does that begin? With us … with me. May we confess our wrongdoing, admit we need God’s forgiveness, believe that Jesus died for our sins, and accept His gift of salvation. May we repent, or turn from our old way of living, and strive to live a life that pleases God.
After king Solomon, David’s son, completed building the Temple, God appeared to him saying, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT).
Our part: Humbly pray, seek the Lord, and live right.
God’s part: Hear, forgive, and restore.
May God restore America as we draw near to Him.
Pointing the Way ~ by Arrow 