Today's Scripture Reading (January 14, 2021): Acts 3
There is a difference between first and only. I
have long believed that one of President Donald Trump's legacies would be the
misstatement of his "America First" slogan, which, through the
President's actions, became "America Only." It quickly became
apparent that the "big beautiful wall" that the American President
wanted to build along the southern border of his nation was a metaphor for the
wall that he wanted to place around the country as the United States began to
disengage from the rest of the world. The big question was and remains to be whether
that is possible in our increasingly global community.
To my American friends who increasingly question
the world's interest in what takes place in their North American nation, my
advice is that they need to take pride in the fact that, for good or ill, what
happens in their country affects what happens elsewhere in the world. Oh, that
is true for all of us, but the degree that the United States influences the rest
of the world is more significant than any other nation's ability to impact the
world. Take pride in that, and recognize that that means that what you do in
your fair country will be of interest to the rest of us. But also remember that
to build the wall that President Trump envisioned would also lessen your impact
along with the profits created by American companies in world markets. There is
nothing wrong with America First, but America Only will always be the beginning
of a moral crisis, not just for the United States, but for all of us living in
the global community.
Luke reveals that there was an "Israel First"
portion to the ministry of the Messiah. God sent his messenger to Israel first.
But there was a reason for that action. God had already said to Abraham, "through
your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed" (Acts 3:25, see also Genesis
22:18 and 26:4). The intention was not the salvation of Israel only; it was the
salvation of the world through Israel and her Messiah's influence. The problem was
that Israel wanted an Israel Only campaign, which was something that God could
not support.
God needed Israel to influence the rest of the
world, blessing them as he had directed Abraham. The Christian Church is called
to be the same kind of influence on the world around us; the world should be
blessed because we are a part of it. We should be a nation of our own, reaching
across borders to link arms and bless what is increasingly becoming a global
world. It was the call that Jesus himself placed on us.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the
salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good
for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
"You are the light of the world. A town
built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put
it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your
Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 4
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