04 Jul July’s Recap: God Before Country. Country Because of God.
What we celebrate this day in the United States of America was in the mind of God before the foundation of this earth was formed.
Long before the first battle was fought, or the first drop of blood shed, God, in His infinite wisdom, purposed us here and planned us for now— living where we live by the sovereign will and divine plan of God Almighty, to fulfill His purposes for His great glory.
Yet “We the people” have left the Architect of true freedom out of our here and now.
Ask yourself: “Where does my heart’s full devotion lie?” Is it in the land in which you live and the comforts and freedoms you enjoy? Or in the love of and devotion to the Sovereign and Gracious God who placed you here? What have you given your wholehearted devotion to?
“This I declare about the Lord: he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:2
It’s not lost on me the great price that was paid for this country and the privilege and abundance of freedom I live in. And though our nation is in quite a mess right now, I do still love this country and I celebrate her with a glad heart, thankful to my God.
I can’t help but think this day how very far away we’ve walked from our God who has given us all this abundance and freedom. Consider his warning to Israel: “When you enter into this great land that I have given you, filled with everything you need or could possible imagine, don’t forget to remember Me.” (Deuteronomy 6, my paraphrase).
But in fact, we have forgotten God. Just look around. We‘ve given more attention to, and have fought harder for our civil, equal, justifiable rights than we‘ve fought to keep the Great Name of our God and King sacred, holy, loved, honored, feared, worshiped, adored and remembered in this land.
Yes, *we the people* have forgotten our God. And as a result, we now find ourselves in the midst of a battle we can’t win apart from doing the thing God has told us: Don’t forget to remember Me.
You see, our battle isn’t a SKIN issue, it’s a SIN issue: We’ve stopped trusting God, believing God, loving God, listening to, obeying God. The only way out of this mess is to turn our hearts back to Him (repent), beg his mercy and forgiveness, and get realigned under His Truth, His Lordship, His Love and Mercy.
We’ve fought hard for freedoms that are merely temporary. But true freedom, everlasting freedom, comes only from God through His Son, Jesus Christ—and it’s absolutely *free* freedom. You don’t have to fight a battle or shed your blood to win it; you can’t protest to get it or pass a law to legalize it. The battle for *this* freedom was already fought and won by One Man- One Soldier, One Savior nailed to a cross on Calvary who shed his blood for you and me to give us the gift of eternal life and eternal freedom.
“So, if the Son sets you free you are free indeed” (John 8:36). The freedom that Christ gives us is a freedom from sin that frees us from “our self” so that he can come in and freely live his life through us. Truly free in Christ we will then begin to see people the way He sees them, love folks the way He loves them, living a life that splashes real freedom on others. With that kind of Freedom living in us, we can change our country, our communities, and our world! Because truly free people free people.
There’s no better day than today to gain eternal freedom- from sin and self. Turn around, turn back, come back, run back to God as fast as you can. Admit you need Jesus, reach out, take his gift, thank God who gives it freely, and start walking in freedom with him. Receive the Free Gift and get free forever.
Happy Independence Day!
xo – P♥️🇺🇸