DID WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY?

THE NATIONS WILL BOW BEFORE GOD

Psalm 67:4-7

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

The earth has yielded its increase;

God, our God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us;

let all the ends of the earth fear him!

The author reminds us that God guides the nations with equity and justice. There is an expectation of God’s care and a natural response of praise.

When we look around, it is easily apparent that the world is in great chaos. Nations are suffering under the leadership of totalitarian governments, and within some countries people are killing each other because of their religions or ethnic hatred. Countries and people groups are at war with each other, driven by decades of animosity. Natural calamities are bringing destruction and sorrow.

Where is God in all of this? He is both judging the people and attracting His own to Himself. He is active, and His glory will be made manifest. One day, every knee will bow and will recognize His majesty and lordship.

Romans 14:11-12

for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

       

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As believers, how should we react to these truths?

First of all, we should have great confidence that God is in total control. We are not abandoned in the hands of ungodly rulers, but we are continually under the careful providence of our God Who is accomplishing His purposes, so we have no reason to fret.

Secondly, we should not lose sight of our responsibility to reach the nations with the Gospel. God has chosen to use His own as ambassadors to reach the lost. We should do this at any cost.

2 Timothy 2:8-10

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

During Paul’s ministry, some questioned his life and methods because of his many sufferings. He reminds the readers of the complete power and veracity of the Gospel. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death. His word is not limited by the will of man or by the schemes of the devil. Paul’s responsibility was to endure any trial, for the sake of those who would believe the good news. He was certain that there were God’s chosen people who needed to be saved.

Even though Paul lived during unjust times, where nations were ruled by other nations, when social injustice was normal, his focus was never fixed upon governments, but always on the only true hope, the Gospel that transforms the hearts of people.

Dear friends, our focus must continue to be the spreading of the Gospel around the globe. Proclaiming Christ and then teaching those who believe in local churches, making disciples who are followers of Christ.

Today, many missionary efforts give more importance to physical needs than spiritual ones. Although it is noble to help the nations, this must not replace our primary responsibility, which is to confront the spiritual state of men. Others have evangelized, giving little attention to the establishment of local churches, which requires discipling the converts and training men for ministry.

Dear friends, this psalm demands that we review our commitment to reaching the lost around us and in the whole world.

Romans 1:14-17

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Four things must be clear in our minds. As believers, we are under obligation: we are responsible to preach the Gospel. Secondly, we need to respond: we must be ready. And thirdly, we must not be ashamed. We are preaching a powerful message, which we must not change in any way, because it is the power of God. Lastly, it is God’s plan that His message will go forth through His children: we must be faithful.

Our praise to God begins with our faithfulness to Him. What a privilege we have to know Him, to know His care, to be aware of His promises! We must shine as lights, as we live in a world of people who are oblivious and uncaring of who God is, nevertheless in desperate need of Christ.

May God bless us and use us to reach the lost for Christ! His Gospel is the only hope for a world in despair!