“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”

I have been diligent to remain non-political in these devotions. I don’t believe politics are of primary importance in God’s Word. I recently listened to a debate on whether God cares about the righteousness of a nation. Obviously, a nation is essentially the sum of its people—maybe even more than the sum of its parts. Scripture often refers to both the behavior of a nation and the behavior of its government. I felt that an AI search put it particularly well: “Proverbs 14:34 teaches that a nation’s adherence to righteousness (right behavior, justice, and morality aligned with God’s will) leads to honor, blessing, and true exaltation, while sin (immorality, injustice, and rebellion against God) brings disgrace, contempt, and downfall. The proverb highlights a universal spiritual principle: a nation’s well-being is intrinsically linked to its spiritual and moral condition, with God evaluating nations not by their accomplishments but by their commitment to righteousness.” I have occasionally shared the truth that if we want peace in our world, it requires peace in our nations. To have peace in our nations, we need peace in our communities. To experience peace in our communities, we need peace in our homes. And to have peace in our homes, we need peace in our hearts. The only way that happens is when the Prince of Peace sits on the throne of our lives. The same journey is true for righteousness. Today, let righteousness rule in your life and spread through your nation. #BeTheEdge

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NIV