“What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8).
Have you ever thought about your nation in these terms? I have. But I come from America, a nation that has a long history with Christianity. And many in Europe might think this way, also having a long history with Christianity. But, this passage was spoken to Israel. A covenant nation, to whom God poured out great blessing as well as great wrath.
In the earlier days of these nations, many laws were written that reflected the Mosaic Law, designed to order a nation. Yet, all of these nations, including America, began turning away from God. The Lord doesn’t want these things forgotten, but passed on. For he continues in Deuteronomy by saying, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
In reality, the church of Jesus has something greater. For once Israel could only approach God through sacrifices. But we approach that same God, whenever we want, because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Have you approached God today? We are a nation within a nation, having open access to God on behalf of the nation we dwell in. We are his ambassadors, and so we must take responsibility for the moral condition of our nation.
Memory Verse
“The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14).
Application
How have you passed on your faith in Christ to your children or grandchildren? How do those around you know that Jesus has had a transformative effect on your life. Pray for your descendants, that there will never be a generation of your family that does not know the Lord.
