The Master's Table - Christian devotional from God's Word

Hope In The Land of Abundance
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

We live in a land of wealth, the land called America. All around us, we have people starving. There are homeless people on the streets, not knowing from where there next meal will come. Some are homeless by choice, but most are homeless because of circumstances over which they have no control.

We have children, hardly past their youth, who are shooting other children in our schools, in the streets, for 'power'. It's as though satan has cast a spell on the kids of today. They seem to not understand there are consequences to things they do. They just do the unforeseen things, and then face whatever comes their way. Their youth is over; they're a child in an adult's world, having to face things that would be hard for even a hardened criminal. What's happening to our world, folks?

God and the Bible were removed from our schools back in the seventies. And, I believe that this was the beginning of the worse downfall America has ever seen. In my days in school, we respected the teachers, our parents, and the people we came in contact with each day. We tried our best to stay out of trouble, and mind our parents. But, now days, children are having to literally raise themselves. Fathers work long hours, or they are absent from the family, via divorce. The Mother has to go back to work, to support the single parent family; otherwise, they don't eat.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

America is going to have to get on her knees, cry out to God for help, and then He will hear us. We are a people in a land of plenty, where people are literally starving, and also 'starving' for peace, comfort, and joy, that only a life with God can give them. Only He is able to change our life for the better, give our nation the 'uplift' it needs. He's patiently waiting for us to seek His face for answers, and to listen when He speaks. HE is our only HOPE - wake up, America!

Heavenly Father, help us realize that you are the only Hope we have. Without this hope, we are lost. Help us reach out to you for whatever we need, to listen to your voice, and obey your commands. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.