March 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Do you get nervous when you think about what could happen if the nations of the world and false religions would combine forces against the faithful church of Christ? Psalm 33:10 teaches us not to be anxious about such matters. God will frustrate the plans, intentions and resolutions of political heads of state and also of religious leaders who try to manipulate the direction of world affairs.

Understand well, the Lord does not frustrate the plans of the nations in order to be mean and nasty. He doesn’t break down those decisions that are just, good and right. The LORD is not like a troublesome family member who in a few seconds breaks apart what his brother or sister took all day to build. In Psalm 33:4-5 the psalmist confesses the opposite. All the works of the Lord are done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the unfailing love of the LORD.

Nevertheless, God will not let the nations of the world have their way. He guards and defends His church with a view to the completion of His redemptive plan. This is why He disables those plans which run contrary to His will. Examples of this are plentiful. When Israel was in Egypt, Pharaoh made a plan to destroy the nation whom God had chosen. The Amalekites tried to put an end to the people of God while they travelled through the wilderness. Later it was the Moabites, Philistines and Assyrians who made similar attempts.

World leaders often work against the plan of the Lord. At times their opposition is plain and obvious. Other times the plan of the Lord is opposed in more subtle ways. The Lord frustrates every scheme directed against Him, His counsel and His people. Military strength and a show of force may seem impressive but the Lord has the power to stop every army and to change the course of history for the sake of His church gathering work. His kingdom will come and His rule will be established. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21) Knowing that world events are subject to God’s plan and to the rule of Jesus Christ, we have no reason to be nervous about the future.