Appointed Times

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

— Acts 17:26

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

In the Apostle Paul's message in the meeting of the Areopagus, he is proclaiming who God is. He has found an altar with the inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD and he is set on proclaiming who this God is. In the middle of his message, he makes this statement, "and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." All the nations that you have made have their appointed times in history. You have marked that out since the beginning. You know when a nation will rise. You know when a nation will fall. You know the boundaries you have set for them. How those boundaries will expand or how they will contract. And if you know this for a nation, I suspect you know the appointed times in history for each person within that nation.

Think of it. You have chosen this time in history for me to live. You have set the boundaries in which I am to live. Lord, you have predetermined that I would exist during this era of time—a time unlike any this world has ever known. This is a time in history that is simultaneously chaotic and disturbing and yet pivotal and momentous. This is a time in history that is on the precipice of the greatest deception and perhaps the greatest Gospel witness. This is an appointed time when we may see horrific cataclysms and jubilant deliverance. This is an appointed time when I may see a nation plummet but a Kingdom come.

Gracious Lord Jesus, whatever this appointed time in history brings to me, may I rest in Your arms knowing You have placed me here and now for such a time as this. May I witness Your awesome power on the earth to proclaim Your name and bring salvation. May I live out this appointed time resolutely to see Your perfect will accomplished.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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