The Happiness of All Who Trust in God
Scripture Reading — Psalm 33:1-22
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
Is happiness found in social and economic policies? Or in educational and cultural programs? These things can be good and helpful, but a nation can only find true happiness when its people recognize the Lord. This occurs when hearts transformed by the grace of God seek to do his will.
In our pluralistic world today many people claim that all religions are equal and that all paths lead to God. Many national leaders today don’t even recognize the Lord.
Is there any nation that serves the Lord today? Not truly. While some nations may claim to trust in God, their actions show that they follow the ways of the world. Even if they do some things right, their leaders seldom give credit to God. We should not be surprised, then, to see a moral and spiritual vacuum in so many places. Wickedness leads to perversion, and ungodliness leads to immorality.
Within every nation, though, there are people who say, like the psalmist, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” These are the people of God’s kingdom, and they know true happiness is found in Christ. They share his love with others, and he says to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant[s]! . . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).
Lord and God, you are the solution our nations need today. Help us to honor you and seek to live your way for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
About the author — Hernandes Lopes
Hernandes became the Portuguese ministry leader for Today's sister Portuguese ministry in 2010. He also serves as the director of the organization Luz Para o Caminho (Light for the Way), an organization formed in partnership between ReFrame and the Presbyterian
Church of Brazil. Hernandes has authored more than 160 books and is a popular and respected conference speaker in Brazil. Hernandes graduated from Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Brazil and earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in
Jackson, MS.
Hernandes and his wife, Tinha, have two adult children.
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