READING: 1 Chronicles 15-17
I admit my bias — I’m a professor of evangelism and missions who believes we have a responsibility to take the gospel to our neighbors and the nations. I come to that position honestly, though, based on the Word of God. In fact, the entire Bible — including the Old Testament — resounds with the truth that God is a global God. Listen to David’s directions for praising God in 1 Chronicles 16, and you cannot miss this theme:
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! (v. 8)
He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. (v. 14)
Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. (vv. 24-26)
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! (v. 28)
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” (vv. 29-31)
Our God loves the nations, the peoples of the world. He loves the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the male and the female. He loves our friends and our enemies. He loves supporters of other government systems and adherents of other world faiths. He loves those who follow Him as well as those who have never heard of His name. In fact, He loves the nations so much that He died for them.
Our God is not a worthless idol made with human hands; rather, He’s the one who made the heavens. Imagine being the first person ever to talk about Him in a nation or among a people group that has never heard His name. It’s our job — and our responsibility — to get the good news to them!
ACTION STEPS:
- Make plans to get more involved in your church’s missions program.
- As you hear or read the news today, pray for people around the world who are facing great difficulties — and who likely don’t know Jesus.
- Pray for missionaries.
PRAYER: “Father, if I’m not as globally minded as You desire, turn my heart to the nations. Make my heart Your heart.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 18-21
