“Blessed is the
nation whose god is the Lord." ~ Psalm 33:12
I’ll admit, I didn’t deserve to be
born in America. I don’t deserve this
place any more than I merit any other of God’s graces. His Kingdom is my final loyalty, but under
that banner it’s OK to be thankful that others paid a high price to preserve
our land with its freedoms and its cultural proclivities. Nevertheless, America still has a way to
go.
When I think of America’s Independence celebration, I’m reminded
of several patriots who fervently believed in, and help define, the American
dream: George Washington, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther
King, Jr. Each was an outcast, but rose
to the pinnacle of political and social influence to shape our nation and the
world.
Perhaps the most unlikely of those heroes is Rev. King. Unlike Gen. Washington, he embraced
nonviolent protest, but mobilized a citizens’ volunteer army to achieve
revolutionary goals. He didn’t have to
fight against gender discrimination like Anthony, yet he led a crusade to
challenge profound prejudice. And unlike
Lincoln, he didn’t hold public office, but he too laid down his life for the
ideals he believed.
2) He loved America
and its founding principles. “When
the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution
and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to
which every American was to fall heir.” (‘I Have A
Dream’ speech, July 4, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial)
3) He expressed love toward his adversaries. Jesus didn’t say ‘Like your enemies.’ ‘Like’ is too sentimental a word ... but Jesus
recognized that love is far greater.” (Loving
Your Enemies)
4) He constantly talked about unity and equality for all
peoples, rather that division. In his
‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail’ he wrote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to
injustice everywhere.”
His God-inspired words still ring true today.
My heart’s burdened by events and attitudes unfolding around
us lately. We’re not united; we’re
divided by political and social ideologies. People’s rights seem to be valued over
peoples’ lives. It breaks God’s heart too.
America is imperfect.
But we should find hope that we have a great future home in heaven. But for now, America is our homeland. We have both the opportunity and freedom to
continue making her better.
In His unending grace, God chose broken people to complete His
mission. Why believe that He can’t use a
broken nation to do the same?
Father, please help heal our nation. We’re in the middle of a great battle; one
that can only be won on our knees. Draw
us close, Lord. Deliver us from its
darkness, that we might be a light to others. Amen
