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250 years for America

 


For as long as I can remember we have celebrated with fireworks, cookouts and more the birthday of this great nation of ours.  This year we celebrated the 250th birthday of our nation.  Let’s remember!


Psalm 33:12 NIV

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.


Today we look at two Scriptures and quotes from those who have led our country.  America is great not because we are powerful. America is great because we have a great God who has greatly blessed us through our founding fathers and far beyond. 


The following quote was spoken over congress by Ben Franklin. 


“I’ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: That God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We’ve been assured in the sacred writings that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN


“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


"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." - Patrick Henry


"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests." - Alexander Hamilton


“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” – George Washington


Our freedom is worth so much more than we might know, and July 4th is a reminder that we need to celebrate what God has given us.  Now it is our turn to turn to God and encourage others to do the same.  


"Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience...without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure...If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan


That last line gets me.  When we forget God, we go under.  This is true for our personal lives, for our church and for our nation. 


2 Chronicles 7:14  NLT  

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.


"It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible." - Theodore Roosevelt


We cannot afford to be ignorant of the Bible and even more of God. 

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