Hosea 12:6 But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.

Again and again throughout the Bible God promises blessings of all sorts, and then makes it clear that those are contingent on people being obedient to Him. We, however, love to “cherry pick” the promises and ignore the conditions – and then complain that God’s promises aren’t reliable when things don’t work out! This verse should be proclaimed in every corner of America today, because people have wandered far from God and faithfulness (the NIV says “love”) and justice are increasingly rare. The problem really is found in the last line of this verse, because people have lost sight of who God is and instead “wait expectantly” on the government, the lottery, or whatever. That’s a prescription for disappointment and disaster. America needs preachers who will proclaim the Word of the Lord fearlessly, rather than trying to scratch itching ears, (2 Timothy 4:3) and it needs individual believers who will live out that Word regardless of the social – and yes, financial – consequences. We do hear encouraging news occasionally about businesses that are willing to go out of business rather than compromise against what God says, but they are few. Many more are going to be given the opportunity to make that choice! If we want the nation to turn back to God, then it’s got to start on the level of individual believers choosing to feed on the Word and live by it, and stop swallowing the swill the world and the devil are shoveling on them.

Having returned to Japan, my memories of the past three weeks are coalescing in my mind. I experienced some encouraging things, but I was struck by the blindness of the majority to what is going on. I need to pray for the shepherds first of all, that they would not be deceived or seduced by the world’s system. The devil has all sorts of bait, and pastors are human too. I do need to pray for the politicians. It seems like there are precious few who seek to follow God and serve the people, but they do exist. I need to pray for strength and protection for them, that their number may increase, and that those who do not fit that description may either repent or be removed from office. Last, but certainly not least, I need to pray for individual believers, that they may wake up to their vital role in the process, to live in personal purity and seek the Lord in every decision, whether it be whom to vote for or simply what and how much to eat.

Father, I too need to wait expectantly for You. Help me keep remembering that nothing is impossible for You, so that I will not lose hope or energy, but push forward as You lead in every area, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!