July 4 devotion for Independence Day

Psalm 18:49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.

Of all the special days on the American calendar, I love Independence Day the most. I guess that as a free-born Scotsman, whose leaders like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce fought and died for liberty, I appreciate the Great American Struggle to win independence for themselves. It was not an easy choice to make, nor was it an easy cause to fulfill. Without commitment and dedication, patience and perseverance, along with unity and determination, America's liberty would never have been won.

We often forget that they took on the strongest army in the world. We don’t appreciate the magnitude of the struggle. It was like David versus Goliath on an international scale and the rocks inside their slingshot, which fortified the Revolution, were called Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I sometimes wonder if the revolutionaries fully knew what they were accomplishing. Most of them fought for their families and colonies. It was a question of survival against the mightiest power on Earth. When the War was over and their new Nation was internationally recognized, I wonder if they really understood what the consequences would be. Their gutsy decisions, haphazard victories, and loyalty to the cause engendered a new beginning for the whole world. They showed every nation on Earth that the God-given right to be free is the greatest force and noblest quality that humanity can ever aspire to or experience.

The writer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, once wrote “The God who gave us life…also gave us liberty.” In my opinion, that is one of the most truthful statements ever written in the annals of human history.

So today, I will celebrate this precious holiday by thanking God for the United States, its people, and its freedoms. I will remind myself of the costs and causes of the past, as well as the responsibilities that our liberties lay upon us today as free citizens. All of these blessings are God-given rights which we need to cherish and continue to spread throughout the world. After all, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness should be blessings that every child, woman, and man should know and experience all over this wonderful planet.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the courage and wisdom of those who established this nation. We are humbled by their achievements and blessed by their accomplishments. Help us to cherish this day with our families and friends, as well as our neighbors and people. Let freedom ring throughout this nation and across the entire world. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. We will be delighted to see you and make you feel very welcome :)

June 28 devotional - As Free People

1 Peter 2:16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. (NIV)

            Freedom is a wonderful gift which should be cherished, encouraged, and protected by people everywhere. All over the world, there are regions and nations where liberty is denied and justice is callously set aside. For freedom to be truly experienced, equality and dignity have to be made available and shared with everyone, even with those whom we disagree. Freedom does not work if people cannot express their views, opinions, or ideas. We may not agree with what people think or say, but if we choose to forcefully silence dissent or stridently suppress the opposition, then we are no longer free; instead, we are held captive to our choices and enslaved by our own prejudices.

            When the apostle Peter was writing to the newly formed Christian churches, he wanted them to personally experience the freedom that Christ had obtained for humanity through His crucifixion. They were set free from the eternal consequences of their sins, so they could now live as a free people – freed from fear and liberated from guilt – whose response to this great grace from God should have been to love and forgive one another. However, as Peter rightly cautioned those believers, they were also not to abuse their deliverance from damnation as a means of covering up evil. God had pardoned them through Jesus, but this did not mean they were now free to do what they liked or to justify their sins. It meant that they should respond by serving God faithfully, doing what He wanted, and sharing this great privilege of being forgiven.

            As we approach a great day of liberty – the 4^th of July – let’s cherish our freedom by sharing our Christian faith in the best ways that we can: accepting and forgiving one another, as well as listening to and loving each other, especially with those whom we disagree.

Point to ponder

How can I celebrate my faith and cherish freedom at the same time?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You commanded us to love God and one another. To truly practice this, we will have to overcome our loathing and despising of those whom we strongly oppose. Help us to embrace and be changed by Your commands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about this message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “Liberty.” If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Liberty.

Independence Day Devotional - Life and Liberty - Romans 8:21

Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. – Romans 8:21

I love the 4^th of July. The picnics in the park, the barbecues in backyards, the wearing of red, white, and blue, and the fireworks at night – all of these make July 4^th a great day for me. It’s also our wedding anniversary, so sometimes the partying feels like it’s just for me and Evelyn. J

                                

Americans know how to celebrate the wonderful benefits of freedom. I just love seeing the parades, the flags, and the people truly enjoying the whole occasion. There’s nothing quite like it on the entire planet. There’s nothing equal to this wonderful day in the year.

                                

At this festive time of year, I usually remind myself of words that Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1774 before he composed most of the Declaration in 1776. In his ‘Treatises on Virginia,’ he penned these not so well known words: ‘The God who gave us Life….also gave us Liberty.’ Combining faith and freedom together like that is also worth celebrating, so every 4^th July, I also give thanks to God for this nation and all its people.

                                

As Christians, we look forward to that glorious Day of Freedom and Liberty when Christ returns. At that time, we will be free of pain and suffering, war and destruction, sickness and disease, as well as poverty and want. Jesus will usher in a New Age on Earth when His Kingdom will be fully established for the rest of eternity. That will be something to truly celebrate. That will be a time to fully experience the liberty from sin that we all yearn, and embrace the freedom of salvation that we all hope to receive.

                                

May God bless you and all your loved ones throughout this festive season of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.