EXALTED CITIES?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk.com.

In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Proverbs 11:10, 11:11, 14:34

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Think about the cities of the world today. We have a lot of them you know. In fact, if you consider the number of cities with more than a million residents, you will find that there are more than 450 in that category with nearly 50 within the United States alone.

That surprised me a little, I guess. For if you had that many people in one location, I would think that we would hear a lot of great things coming from those locales, don’t you?

I mean, it makes sense, right?

More people mean more opportunity to do good which would mean more of a reputation to elevate your stature in the nation and the world as a place where benevolence thrives. But think about it, name one city right off the top of your head that jumps out at you in this regard. If you can, help me out because I stay in tune with the world and I can’t think of one.

So why is this? Why don’t we have the opposite matter to discuss, a matter that would have us debating which city is the best when it comes to its goodwill, generosity, and compassion toward others?

The answer is rather simple actually and it’s found in these proverbs:

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Proverbs 11:10

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Proverbs 11:11

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. Proverbs 14:34

Through God’s word, we find the key to any city being elevated in stature, particularly when it comes to munificence and philanthropy. It’s all about righteousness.

That’s it. It’s righteousness.

Not any man-made movement or program or concept. Just simply the people of God allowing God to work in and through their hearts and minds to do what is right and just and fair. When all people adopt this attitude within one municipality, when everyone gets on the same page of consistently placing themselves second to allow God’s word and will to be first, guiding them to His goodness and holiness, then and only then will that city become exalted and esteemed for all the right reasons.

Note that there is no room for wickedness in this equation. For it’s wickedness that has kept any city from being elevated to the level of goodness one might expect. Sin is an anchor that keeps a community of people from realizing just how good they can be together when they turn to what is right ahead. Perhaps this is why the righteous count it a blessing when someone wicked perishes, not because they rejoice in their death but because they rejoice in the wickedness that has departed, a wickedness that would seek to destroy every good and perfect thing the city was trying to do. After all, this is the main initiative of Satan himself, to destroy every good and perfect thing God is trying to do through His people.

Yes, the key is righteousness and it involves placing ourselves second so God can place others first in our lives. And if every person in every city would just do that, then can you see what a better world we would have to live in today, what a better world our children and our children’s children will have to grow up in?

For when every city in a nation becomes known for its righteousness, then the resultant effect is that the nation those cities are in becomes exalted. It’s as easy as that.

Righteous cities equal righteous nations.

Conversely, sinful cities equal sinful nations.

Question: Where does your city stand today? What are you doing to try and turn it toward righteousness? What is your church doing to turn it from righteousness?

Friends, our only hope in reaching the point where a city and nation rejoice in exaltation because they are living in ways that are right and pleasing with God is for every man and woman to live right in all that they do. When everyone is committed to that end, then, and only then, will our world be a better place.

It’s something we should not only strive for and dream about but pray over each and every day.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com