Church Family,
Today is a good day to pause and give thanks to God for the United States of America and for the many blessings we enjoy as a nation. For nearly 250 years, God has been kind to preserve our country and allow us to live with freedoms that many people around the world have never known.
As George Washington once wrote, it is the duty of nations “to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God…to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” That is a fitting reminder for us today.
As Christians, we remember that our first and highest citizenship is in heaven. Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Our ultimate hope is in Christ and His kingdom.
At the same time, we can joyfully celebrate the country God has placed us in. I am thankful to be an American. I am thankful for the freedom to worship, gather as the church, preach the gospel, raise our families, serve our neighbors, and seek the good of our communities.
I am also thankful for those who have served our country and helped preserve these freedoms. In my own family, my grandfather, father, stepmother, sister, two brothers-in-law, and several cousins have served in the military. I am grateful for their sacrifice and for the sacrifice of so many others.
So today, enjoy the celebration. Give thanks. Pray for our country. Love your neighbors. And rejoice that our greatest hope is secure in Jesus Christ.
Happy Fourth of July,
Pastor Scott