Thursday, November 7, 2024
A Healing in the Land
“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)
We need to pray. We need to pray for our nation. We need to pray for a revival in our nation. A revival is a spiritual awakening in which many people recognize and confess their sinfulness and turn to Jesus in repentance and receive forgiveness and salvation.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord gives His prescription for revival: “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” (NLT). In the context of the passage, the prescription was given to the nation of Israel. In principle, it applies to any nation. It applies to the United States. It applies to Australia. It applies to New Zealand. It applies to China. It applies to Germany. And it applies to the other 190 or so countries in the world today.
More specifically, it applies to God’s people in those countries. Because that’s where revival begins. Would you like to see our land healed? Would you like to see our nation embrace Judeo-Christian principles? Would you like to see our country turn to the Lord? It can happen.
And it starts with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, and turning from our wicked ways. Are there any wicked ways you need to turn from right now, even as a follower of Jesus Christ? We are told in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). God is faithful to forgive.
God calls believers to infiltrate our culture. In Matthew 5, He instructs us to be salt and light to the people around us. To share the gospel. Our country needs to hear the gospel—and it needs to see the gospel in action.
Jesus’ words “You are the light of the world” in Matthew 5:14 could also be translated as “You and you alone are the light of the world.” He emphasizes the fact that we are His representatives. We are the ones unbelievers look to, whether out of curiosity or suspicion. People watch us to see what it looks like to follow Christ.
Let me ask you a question: What if every Christian lived as you live? What if you were the sole representative of Jesus Christ on this earth? Would there be enough gospel in your life for people to believe? Enough saltiness to simulate in them a thirst? Enough light for them to find their way out of the darkness and put their faith in Jesus Christ?
I hope so because this is the message we need to give to others. Remember, gospel means “good news.” Our culture is saturated with fake news or news driven by an agenda. People are hungry for good news. They’re hungry for the truth.
The gospel can satisfy that hunger. And when it does, revival begins. First in the lives of individuals and then throughout the land. That’s how a nation is restored.
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