READING:
One-year plan: Psalms 63-68, Romans 11:33-12:21
Two-year plan: 1 Samuel 11-12, Luke 18:9-23
———
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 (Psa 66:1). “All peoples” are to praise Him (Psa 66:8). In fact, God blesses us so that His salvation might be known “among all nations” (Psa 67:2). The “ends of the earth” (Psa 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.
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 even I still wonder if I carry God’s passion for the nations. It sounds like a cliché, but we evidence such a passion by praying, giving, sending, and going to the nations. 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.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Does your heart reflect the global heart of God?
DAILY PRAYER: “Lord, increase this passion in me.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Psalms 69-72 Romans 13-14
Two-year plan: 1 Samuel 13:1-14:14, Luke 18:24-43
*portions first published in 2017
