Will we leave our children a nation under God's rule?
Verse of the Day, May 23, 2022
Jeremiah 32:27 CSB "Look, I am the LORD, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?"
The idea of "leaving the world better than you found it" can be traced to a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Boy Scouts once learned to leave a place visited better than they found it. Sir Robert Baden-Powell founded the Scouts. He charged the Scouts, "Try to leave this world a little better than you found it," in his last address. Sir Robert shared the concept with Juliette Gordon, who founded the Girl Scouts. Accessed May 23, 2022). We are never further than one generation from losing the biblical foundation that built America and guaranteed to leave her a better for our children.
Jeremiah recognizes that the consequences of the current culture shape the country the next generation receives. Jeremiah prayed: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God" (Jeremiah 32:17–18 NASB95). The Bible establishes GOD'S RULE that the consequences of the father's sin visit the next generation (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; 1 Kings 14:9–10; 16:3). Jeremiah reminds us that God also passes the blessings of our repentance onto our children's generation.
Jeremiah's nation (Israel) had turned away from obeying God. They were following the ways of the surrounding nations. God said, "It is a free world. If you choose to disobey My Rule (Biblical truth) and follow the laws of other countries, then they will rule over you (Jeremiah 32:1–15, my paraphrase). The Israelites followed false teaching (secular rules; 32:30–33), worshiped idols (material things that the Babylonians promoted 32:29), and sacrificed their children to the god of the "here and now" (32:35). God says If you want to be like them, face the consequences. God promised what or who you worship and obey will conquer and rule over you (Babylon and the Chaldeans will capture Jerusalem; Jeremiah 32:1–6).
God told Jeremiah to buy land in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was told not to give up on his country but rather to trust in God. Obeying the world's way would get so bad that some of Jeremiah's countrymen would repent and return to God. God said to Jeremiah hold on to My promises and your land because I will repay repentance by blessing the next generation better than Your contemporaries.
Verse twenty-six is God's answer to Jeremiah's prayer: "Is anything too difficult for Me?" How will we leave America? God can still rescue and make America "One nation under God" for our children. If we teach our children and grandchildren to trust and obey God, is it too hard for God to make them live under His blessings and rule?
Ah, Lord God! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great wonder-working power! (32:17). I know America no longer has the respect for You as when I was a child. Lord, forgive me for tolerating the false teaching of secularization, the idolatry of materialism, and the immorality of the sexual revolution.
Today, Lord God, help me remember America when she trusted the God of the Bible to bless obedience. As Jeremiah said about the God Israel, "Nothing is too complicated for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God." Lord, with wonder-working power, You established America (32:17–22).
My Creator and Redeemer placed me in the greatest nation on earth (Acts 17:24–28). I am free to obey, worship, and proclaim how great my God is. My generation came in and took possession of America, but we did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; we have done nothing of all that You commanded us to do; therefore, You have caused all this calamity we face today (Jeremiah 32:23).
Lord, like Jeremiah, I will tell my generation to look at how we have fallen from where we began. We feel only the beginning of Your wrath and anger, failing to obey and honor You. The God who created America will allow us to live with the consequences of our choices until we repent. Lord, help us change our actions and thinking and return to obeying Your Word. Nothing is too complicated or far gone for the Lord to accomplish His Word.
Lord, nothing is complicated to prevent You from keeping Your promise to the remnant of America who repents and again respects You that: "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul" (32:38-41). In Jesus' name, amen.
Daily Devotion
Will we leave our children a nation under God's rule?
Verse of the Day, May 23, 2022
Jeremiah 32:27 CSB "Look, I am the LORD, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?"
The idea of "leaving the world better than you found it" can be traced to a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Boy Scouts once learned to leave a place visited better than they found it. Sir Robert Baden-Powell founded the Scouts. He charged the Scouts, "Try to leave this world a little better than you found it," in his last address. Sir Robert shared the concept with Juliette Gordon, who founded the Girl Scouts. Accessed May 23, 2022). We are never further than one generation from losing the biblical foundation that built America and guaranteed to leave her a better for our children.
Jeremiah recognizes that the consequences of the current culture shape the country the next generation receives. Jeremiah prayed: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God" (Jeremiah 32:17–18 NASB95). The Bible establishes GOD'S RULE that the consequences of the father's sin visit the next generation (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; 1 Kings 14:9–10; 16:3). Jeremiah reminds us that God also passes the blessings of our repentance onto our children's generation.
Jeremiah's nation (Israel) had turned away from obeying God. They were following the ways of the surrounding nations. God said, "It is a free world. If you choose to disobey My Rule (Biblical truth) and follow the laws of other countries, then they will rule over you (Jeremiah 32:1–15, my paraphrase). The Israelites followed false teaching (secular rules; 32:30–33), worshiped idols (material things that the Babylonians promoted 32:29), and sacrificed their children to the god of the "here and now" (32:35). God says If you want to be like them, face the consequences. God promised what or who you worship and obey will conquer and rule over you (Babylon and the Chaldeans will capture Jerusalem; Jeremiah 32:1–6).
God told Jeremiah to buy land in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was told not to give up on his country but rather to trust in God. Obeying the world's way would get so bad that some of Jeremiah's countrymen would repent and return to God. God said to Jeremiah hold on to My promises and your land because I will repay repentance by blessing the next generation better than Your contemporaries.
Verse twenty-six is God's answer to Jeremiah's prayer: "Is anything too difficult for Me?" How will we leave America? God can still rescue and make America "One nation under God" for our children. If we teach our children and grandchildren to trust and obey God, is it too hard for God to make them live under His blessings and rule?
Ah, Lord God! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great wonder-working power! (32:17). I know America no longer has the respect for You as when I was a child. Lord, forgive me for tolerating the false teaching of secularization, the idolatry of materialism, and the immorality of the sexual revolution.
Today, Lord God, help me remember America when she trusted the God of the Bible to bless obedience. As Jeremiah said about the God Israel, "Nothing is too complicated for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God." Lord, with wonder-working power, You established America (32:17–22).
My Creator and Redeemer placed me in the greatest nation on earth (Acts 17:24–28). I am free to obey, worship, and proclaim how great my God is. My generation came in and took possession of America, but we did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; we have done nothing of all that You commanded us to do; therefore, You have caused all this calamity we face today (Jeremiah 32:23).
Lord, like Jeremiah, I will tell my generation to look at how we have fallen from where we began. We feel only the beginning of Your wrath and anger, failing to obey and honor You. The God who created America will allow us to live with the consequences of our choices until we repent. Lord, help us change our actions and thinking and return to obeying Your Word. Nothing is too complicated or far gone for the Lord to accomplish His Word.
Lord, nothing is complicated to prevent You from keeping Your promise to the remnant of America who repents and again respects You that: "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul" (32:38-41). In Jesus' name, amen.