In the Hands of GodJust like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in My hands, O House of Israel! At one moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be uprooted and pulled down and destroyed; but if that nation against which I made the decree turns back from its wickedness, I change My mind concerning the punishment I planned to bring on it. At another moment I may decree that a nation or a kingdom shall be built and planted; but if it does what is displeasing to Me and does not obey Me, then I change My mind concerning the good I planned to bestow upon it. (Jeremiah 18:6-10) Saturday, After the Holy Trinity Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love and purity. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity! Amen. Dear friends, In American Christianity, we often think that God only deals with each person individually. While it is true that God does deal with each of us individually, He also deals with nations corporately. God has the power to build up a nation or uproot a whole nation. The turning point for a nation is whether they do what is pleasing to God or not. Those nations who are in line with his will are established. Those who depart from the ancient paths, and choose to walk paths of their own choosing, will become a “desolation.” In America, there are many who have chosen to walk in paths that are far from The Path that God has called us to walk upon. They have chosen to stray from The Truth of God and his designs. They are abandoning The Life for ways that lead to death. In one sense, God doesn’t have to do much to overthrow such a nation. When we abandon the Source of our Life, then we all “wither like leaves, and our iniquities, like a wind, carry us off.” (Is. 64:5) We are our own undoing. Let’s pray for the healing and turning of our nation. God has redeemed the world through Jesus. God has made him the Way, the Truth, and the Life through which we find healing and every good. Individually, AND nationally. We all are, every single one of us, the beautiful works of God. Let’s live like it to his glory and the blessing of others. May it be so with God’s help, Pastor Langdon Reinke |