Let the Nations Be Glad

"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth." (Ps. 67:4)

The modern church has wrongly assumed we understood the word "nations" in this and other scriptures where it is used. We naturally assumed a nation was a geo-political state like England, France, the United States, or China. Students of the Bible, however, understand now that those kind of 'nations' did not exist to the degree we understand them.

In the OT, starting in Genesis and running through Malachi, and in the NT, from Matthew all the way through Revelation, we discover that nations, (NT is 'ethne', Greek for people groups) tribes, villages, languages, all peoples are on the heart of God. Our responsibility according to the Scriptures is to be sure that the Gospel is carried to every people group so that everyone can hear the Gospel in their heart language.

We need to begin to see from God's perspective. In Acts, Philip was preaching a evangelistic meeting in Samaria, and people were being saved all over the place. But God told him to leave that and travel down a desert road to see one man in a chariot headed home to Ethiopia. God wanted the Gospel to go to Ethiopia. God's heart is that on the day we gather in heaven around the throne, there will be praise to Him being declared by people from every tribe, every language, and every single people group. We must proclaim the Good News to the people groups who have never heard, so that the Nations might be glad.

Count it all Joy

"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." (James 1:3)

How can we be joyful in the midst of a trial? By remembering that God is at work on His throne to accomplish His purposes. He never allows us to be tested beyond the point of endurance and He always provides us grace to go through the storm and the valley. As someone has said, "Without the storm clouds, there can be no rainbow."

When you said "Yes" to God through Jesus Christ, He went to work to transform your character into Christlikeness. Sometimes when God is chiseling away the stuff that does not honor Him it hurts. But God will bring you through. And it is somewhat easier when we cooperate than when we resist.

I heard this once and I do not know who originated it:
"I walked a mile with pleasure, she chattered all the way,
But I was none the wiser, for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with sorrow, not a word said she,
But, oh the things I learned from her, when sorrow walked with me."

May God bless you today, that you might be a blessing to others.