17 The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. 18 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor will the hope of the afflicted ever perish. 19 Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

Those who faithfully serve God will be blessed and those who refuse to serve him will be punished. This is a true statement that is shouted from God’s word, both the Old Testament and the New. It is true whether applied to individuals, families or to nations. However, this simple statement is often doubted, confused and misapplied because we fail to see God’s timetable. We forget that he does not count time as we count it and what may seem near eternity to us is only seconds to him. As Peter expresses it, one day is like a thousand years to God or a thousand years like one day. What this means is that the blessing or the punishment may come swiftly or it may not even be in our lifetime here on this earth.

When I was a child and my dad would promise something to me that I considered as good, I would hope that he did not forget to do it. But, when he promised to punish me when we got home, I would hope that he would forget (which he usually did not do). God does not forget. But God knows what we need, what is best for us and he also knows when we need it.

God is not slow concerning his promises and one of those promises is that he will never leave us or forsake us. This is why Jesus said for us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all the material things we need, will be given to us. Our job is to trust God, live for him and seek to allow him to make us like him.

This starts with our attitude toward him and his word but it continues in our attitude toward those around us. Our attitude controls what we are and what we do. Since we want to be like God, what is his attitude? God is love. God loved the world – even while we were his enemies – he gave his Son to die for our sins. God is merciful, gracious and forgiving. God is no respecter of persons – that is, he is not prejudice. He gives us (every one of us) the time and opportunity to serve him. He gives us plenty of reason to do so.

O God, gracious and kind, I thank you for your love to me. I thank you for all of the physical blessings you have showered on me. I thank you for my family and friends who mean so much to me. I thank you for the ability to earn a living and the opportunity to do so. But most of all I thank you for the many spiritual blessings you give in Christ Jesus. I thank you for allowing me to come with complete assurance to you in prayer, knowing that you will always hear me and answer. Use me in your service. In Jesus’ name.