God & Country
“Whether we live or die, sink or swim, succeed or fail, I stand behind this Declaration of Independence. And if God wills it, I am ready to die in order that this country might experience freedom.” —John Adams
“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the Destiny of nations, & who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us… Forbid it, almighty God!” I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” —Patrick Henry
Deuteronomy 8:6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE
I.
II.
“Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) America has flourished because we have never forgotten that its one nation under God… not above God.
III.
There is a word for freedom in the N.T. It is the word, “redemption.” “Redemption” means “to be set free.” It means that we have been bought with a price, that we have been freed of our bondage, & now we are really free.
So, as we celebrate again the birth of our nation, pray that our country might have a new birth of freedom. Reaffirming our dependence upon God so that, “looking unto Jesus the author & finisher of our faith,” we might experience the freedom He gives.