READING: Psalms 65-67, 69, 70
“Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you.”
Psalm 67:3
The nations are always on the heart of God, as the book of Psalms often shows us. God longs for “all the earth” to shout for joy (Psalm 66:1). “All peoples” are to praise Him (Psalm 66:8). In fact, God blesses us so that His salvation might be known “among all nations” (Psalm 67:2). The “ends of the earth” (Psalm 67:7) will fear Him because of the way He takes care of us. In the end, the earth will sing praises to Him.
All the earth. All peoples. The nations. The ends of the earth. The kingdoms of the earth. Even heaven, the earth, and “the seas and all that move in them” will praise Him (Psalm 69:34), and it’s through the nations that God’s glory will be carried to the ends of the earth.
These truths force me to consider whether my heart reflects the heart of God for the nations. To be frank, I work for a cross-cultural organization, and I probably do think more about God’s global heart than most people do — but I still wonder if even I carry God’s passion for the nations. I wonder if I talk about my passion more than I model any real passion.
It sounds like a cliché, but we evidence such a passion by praying, giving, sending, and going to the nations. We pray regularly and intentionally for missionaries and the peoples they’re seeking to reach. We give sacrificially — not just superficially — to support cross-cultural work. We strive to send our best to peoples who have not heard or followed the gospel. And, we go personally, if even for only a week or two at a time.
People with God’s passion for the nations will be willing to give their lives so others might hear. I’m not sure I’m fully there yet, but I want to be. I want all the earth to shout for joy (Psalm 66:1).
ACTION STEPS:
- Evaluate your personal commitment to praying, giving, sending, and going to the nations.
- Plan at least one step in the next month toward personally becoming a stronger Great Commission Christian.
PRAYER: “God, You are without question God of the nations. Please give me Your heart.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 51
*previously published in 2016
