- a woman we will see in social media pictures today
It's a weekend of celebrating our country and the freedoms others have fought for.
Sometimes we struggle with this...
whether we are cynical of government or wave the flag every chance we can - including the unique aforementioned bikini.
There's wisdom on all of this in the Bible. It instructs us to see an honorable government as a way to honor God, and for a government to be honorable to God in how it treats its people.
Even when the government does not live up to its role, we are still to live up to ours.
The catch is when a government asks us to do or support something that is in direct disobedience to God’s Word. In such times, we are to put God first, trusting in His power to protect us here or take us into the world to come.
Those who take this kind of stand for God stand in good company.
One example we can read about involves some young men who took a stand by simply doing that - standing up when everyone else bowed down in resignation at the risk of punishment.
Our persecution might be name-calling or shunning. Their persecution involved being thrown into a blazing fire."If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
The question this weekend isn't if we're blessed to live in a country like America.
We are blessed.
(Eat a hot dog and a brat and a burger alongside of a slab or watermelon and a diet coke... if you need proof.)
The challenge with a "blessing" is to not turn the blessing into an indulgence to do whatever we want but to be responsible and God-honoring with it.
That's the true nature of a blessing -
not "Woo hoo! Look at me! Let's do anything and everything with it!"
but "How can I use what God has given me to further what He is doing in this world?"
May God bless America?
Only if we begin by blessing God as America.
"America was founded by people who believe that God was their rock of safety. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it’s all right to keep asking if we’re on His side." - Ronald Reagan
Are you in?
