America…A Blessed Nation?

It warms my heart to hear people say and sing GOD BLESS AMERICA.
 
Indeed, America is a blessed nation when it comes to prosperity, comfort, our history and opportunity. No question the United States is the most blessed nation on earth regarding natural things.
 
But reality is this; can God bless us today in our spiritual and moral life?  
 
Almighty God, our Creator and Redemer cannot and never will bless sinful individuals and a sinful nation. We fool ourselves if we sing God bless America yet continue to live sinful lives in the sight of the One we ask to bless us. 
 
Spiritually and morally the United States is losing her way in a hurry. I wonder if we can call ourselves blessed when the vast majority of our citizens have willfully wandered from the Word of God.
 
According to Webster, blessed in relation to man means “to enjoy happiness, to enjoy the bliss of heaven, to bring pleasure and contentment.” Certainly, everyone in his or her right mind wants to be blessed don’t they? I know I do. But how can a man or nation be blessed, especially by God?
 
David lays out personal and national blessing in our word for this week.
 
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
 

• Blessed nations make God the Lord of the land. Lord means supreme leader. Top dog. Head Fred (in a holy sense) if you will! When the God of the Bible is Lord, when people reverently and obediently look to Him to call the shots, a country is not cursed, but blessed.

 

• Acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ blesses a nation. When Jesus Christ, who is the only true and living God, rules and reigns in the hearts of a people, then, and only then, can a nation be blessed by God.

           
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to a people.”  Proverbs 14:34
 

• Righteous living blesses a nation. Righteousness means what is right. So ,what is right? What is right in the sight in God is what is right. Right and wrong is determined by our Maker, not man. Living right, according to the Bible, lifts up a people. Sin, living wrong, in defiance of God’s holy standards, brings down a nation. Instead of being graced by God, a sinful people bring disgrace upon themselves.

 

• Righteousness is the need of this perilous hour. If we want America to be blessed and exalted, God’s righteousness, which has been provided for us by the sacrifice of His only Son Jesus Christ, must reign in the heart of citizens who humble themselves before the Lord, repent of their sins and return to Him.  

 
Our nation’s spiritual life and moral future is not about rhetoric; it is about repentance and righteousness. It is not about haughtiness or personal happiness; it is about humility and holiness. It is not about playing or paying; it is about praying. It is not about handouts; it is about reaching out with our hands to God for help. It is not about winning someone over to a political point of view; it is about turning from our wicked ways.
 
Being blessed as a nation is all about turning to God with repentant hearts and receiving His forgiveness…then He will heal our land.
 
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
 
The people who know the Lord and those who don’t must fulfill the above verse if America is to be blessed by the heart and hand of God.  
 
Ø  My friend, join with me in praying for spiritual and moral revival to sweep across America so we may once again consider ourselves blessed by God.
 
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer for them is their salvation.” Romans 10:1
 
Ø  If America is to be a truly blessed nation, it is up to people like you and me to love and lead others to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
 
 A Word For Your Week: The blessings of God on His terms is America’s greatest need and only hope.