PATRIOTISM & NATIONALISM* (III)*


*DAILY DEW 8TH/MAY/2021*

*PATRIOTISM & NATIONALISM* (III)*

_Key Bible Text:_
*From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.* (Acts 17‭:26-27 (NIV))

_Bible Insight:_
There is, however, a further point that Paul could be making here. It is possible that 'the times set for them' refers to the seasons of the year which make possible the seed time and harvest which are so vital for the provision of our needs. The actual tense of 'he determined' (RSV: 'having determined') implies that the earth was arranged in this way before man appeared on the scene, so that everything was ready to provide for him. This brings to mind what Winston Churchill said in his famous 'iron curtain' speech at Fulton, Missouri in 1946. Quoting Bourke Cochrane he asserted: 

"There is enough for all. The earth is a generous mother: she will provide in plentiful abundance food for all her children, if they will cultivate her soil in justice and peace."

Paul's worldview is one that is obviously demanded today. Narrow nationalism and unthinking patriotism will not solve the most pressing problems facing the human race, such as [terrorism, insecurity, violence, poverty, corruption, illiteracy,] the limited supply of energy, the shortage of food, the growth of the world's population and pollution. There is no master race, but 'every nation of men' has been made 'to inhabit the whole earth' under the Lord of seasons and history. It is urgent today that the human race views itself in these terms. 

(Culled from Kenneth Prior's The Gospel in a Pagan Society)

MEDITATION:
*Neither in nature nor in grace -- neither in the old creation nor in the new -- is there any room for ideas of racial superiority. -- Professor F. F. Bruce*

*#David_Joshua_Egbochuo*
*#Saturday_wisdomforliving*
*#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus*
*#Wonders_of_Grace*
*#Hello_May* ❤ 

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