God Gave Us Liberty

God bless America. Today we celebrate our nation's independence. It's our 239th birthday as a country. We celebrate in all the ways John Adam's predicted when he wrote his wife Abigail:

"...with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forever more."

Pretty good prediction on his part. It's a freedom fought and died for in this country under God. But there was one other thing, the first thing actually, that John Adams wrote that we should do to commemorate our "day of deliverance." He said with "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."

You know there probably won't be many worship services today with solemn acts of devotion in reverence and thanks to the God of providence who permitted the creation of this country. People may give thanks to God when saying grace before they devour their barbeque. And chills will run up their neck when they hear "God Bless The U.S.A." as sung by Lee Greenwood with bombs bursting in air. But the solemn acts of devotion will be sorely lacking. And in a country that desperately needs our Father at the helm, we can use all the devotion to God we can get.

My children, we are fiercely patriotic. We love this country. We love our flag. We are grateful to the men and women who gave so much for our freedoms. You know of the 56 brave men who signed our Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2, 1776 (the final wording the document was approved on July 4, 1776), nine died in the Revolutionary War or from injuries sustained in the war; five were captured and tortured by the British; twelve had their homes ransacked or burned and three died in poverty after losing all their possessions to the British. Signing that declaration, while an act of bravery, was an act of treason, and they all knew it. And many paid the price for it. And that doesn't count the thousands who died for our freedom in many wars. Or those persecuted for their efforts.

Never take that freedom for granted, and never forget where those freedoms originated. Not with our founding fathers, but rather our Almighty Father. To quote the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, who died on July 4, 1826 (the same day as John Adams, interestingly):

"God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?"

Make an effort to spend some time today in solemn devotion to our God. For it is He who holds us in His hands. Praising God He is sovereign. Praising God for our freedom. And praying He continues to bless the U.S.A.

Discussion: What does your patriotism mean to you? Have you made an effort to thank God today for our country? Where do you see God at work in America?

Prayer: Our Lord God, our nation was founded on You. We thank you for this country and the good it does throughout the world. We thank You for our freedom. Father, please, as You fold the future of our nation in your hands, please guide and protect us. Bless us, Lord. And I pray we always remember where our liberty comes from. In Jesus, Amen.