Many are preparing for the 250th celebration of our nation tomorrow. Some will do so quietly, treating it as little more than any other day. Others will get caught up in all the hoopla of fireworks, grilling parties, hitting the beach, and spending time with family and friends. I wonder how many in this latter group will include giving praise and thanksgiving to the Lord God Almighty in their festivities? All the hoopla and homage to God is how founding father John Adams foresaw our celebrations of perpetual independence, except he believed it would be on the second of July, rather than the fourth. Here is a portion of his letter to wife Abigail:
“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
God has shed His grace on us – the just and the unjust. He has given us the blessings of liberty and the prosperity that naturally flows from the fountain of freedom (as seen in Decency Minute #1) – when such freedom recognizes that its Source is the God of Heaven.
Over the course of time, leftists have urged the American people, who have enjoyed the blessings of liberty, to walk away from or deny freedom’s Source of blessing as being God. In so doing, we’ve more easily been moved to deny America’s goodness, denigrated our founders, and, in replacing our history and eroding our foundations, have drawn the public down a road (socialism, Islamism, hedonism, etc.) which has destruction as its destination. As our second Decency Minute aptly points out, the only way to secure the blessings of liberty is “to return to the Lord who granted them to us.”
What’s in store for America? Will she last another 250 years? Only God knows the answer to that; He has perfect vision and foreknowledge. One thing I do know, history has shown that those people who walk away from God do so at their own peril. We have watched, many with apathy and willful blindness, the facts of our third Decency Minute come into play – America is being plundered by Islamists and they are being called to rise up against this nation, using its own God-given laws and freedoms against it. It’s time to wake up – It’s time to “Awake to righteousness, and sin not.” Why? Paul continues with the rest of I Corinthians 15:34, “for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” Wow, dear Reader, please take this to heart.
In closing, I would urge you to read the whole of Psalm 33. We, as patriotic Christians, like to quote Psalm 33:12 at this time of year: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” But there is so much more to this portion of Scripture, particularly when we tie it to this celebration of the fourth of July.
This psalm starts with rejoicing and praise; it moves on to speak of God loving righteousness and judgment, telling us that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (v. 5) We often think of the blessings that cover America, but truly God’s goodness is FULL throughout the earth. Do we sometimes get so caught up with the blessings that we neglect to see the Blesser? What is our treasure – is it God Himself or is it that which He has given us?
Take time to meditate on verses 8-9; fear the Lord and let others know that they ought to stand in awe and fear of Him too. “For some (many?) have not the knowledge of God.” (I Cor. 15:34) Realize that “the counsel of the heathen” will not stand, it’s foolishness to walk in their way (Ps. 33:10) and that no one and nothing but God will save a people (Ps. 33:16-17)
There is so much in Psalm 33 that would be good for us to reflect on, but as we consider doing “solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty,” might we share with others the need for our turning to God should we desire to see America have God’s grace continually be shed on her, for His sake and the sake of our children and grandchildren. Will America be around for another 250 years, should the Lord tarry? I believe we will find the answer in the following verses of this thirty-third psalm:
Verses 18-22 read, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”
Happy July 4th to our readers; may you enjoy acts of devotion as well as family and fun. God is sovereign, but we have a responsibility as well; let us tell of His wonderful works. The Lord IS Good!
As the world’s soccer fans tour the US for the World Cup, driving from city to city between matches, many are having their minds blown by simple aspects of the everyday lives of Americans.
Experiences like visiting Wal-Mart, eating at Golden Corral or Taco Bell, free refills on drinks, trying ranch dressing or seeing a Cyber Truck stretch even these first-world tourists’ ideas of luxury.
The opportunity to see this opulence through the eyes of travelers from the lands which sent our colonizing forefathers and began to civilize this continent brings to life the song America, the Beautiful, “America, America, God shed His Grace on thee…”
Indeed, He has. What a blessing to live here, of all places on earth. And all of these physical and economic blessings don’t even scratch the surface of God’s amazing grace! How much greater is the spiritual legacy of our forefathers!
This week we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and the blessings of liberty which God has granted to America. Yet, as a nation, we’ve squandered those blessings and turned away from the Lord. At the same time, warning bells are going off as socialist candidates are winning elections in major cities across the country.
It’s a reminder of Reagan’s cautionary warning: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same …”
We are living in a pivotal point in our nation’s history. If America is to remain the land of the free, not only must Americans fight to preserve the blessings of liberty, but more importantly, return to the Lord who granted them to us.
At the 2024 Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) conference, Imam Siraj Wahhaj openly bragged about the Islamic takeover of New York City. Listen to his claims from 2024, realizing they’re likely even higher now:
In New York City, there are:
* 1,500,000 Muslims
* 300 mosques
* 96,000 Muslim businesses
* 10% of NYC public school students are Muslim
And then he plainly said: “Islam is better than democracy… It will happen.” “Invite people to the way of Allah.”
Agenda weekly also reported that “an imam in Huntsville, Alabama, urged his followers to prepare to sacrifice their lives through jihad in order to establish ‘the religion of Allah’ in the United States.”
These aren’t threats being preached in some remote village overseas; the call for jihad is being given decisively here – in America.
Pray and vote with awareness.
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