The Fourth of July

A Day to Celebrate Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!

July 4, 1776 is the most important date in American history—as it is the commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. While we celebrate the anniversary of our nation on the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, our divine dependence is found in our relationship with Christ.


It is through our dependence upon Him that we can enjoy the independence we celebrate—which was gloriously established by our Founding Fathers who pledged their own lives to help grant us liberty. Through their profound actions, they lived out the verse, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. 

In fact, the Declaration of Independence fittingly states:


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."


It’s no accident that the Founding Fathers placed life first because they recognized that it is our most precious gift.


We remain profoundly grateful to our Founding Fathers for acknowledging the immeasurable gift of life—and their emphatic focus on the Lord which connects our liberty, life and dependence upon God to our true freedom—which is in Christ.


And, we love our country because He created it, praise the Lord. It is because of the Lord that we are the land of the free and the home of the brave. 


The Fourth of July is a historical milestone that marks the birth of the United States. It is an immense celebration of Freedom and Democracy, a patriotic display of our love for country and fosters national pride through our observances of the holiday, including salutes to our military, fireworks, parades, concerts, reading of the Declaration of Independence, public events and more.  

The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, marked the formal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain.


It provided the groundwork for the establishment of the United States of America as an independent nation.

Images: Above, Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale.

Top, the Liberty Bell on display across the street from Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Bottom, an enlarged view of the Declaration of Independence.

The Fourth of July is a good time to consider the American values upon which this country was founded—life, liberty, free speech, freedom of religion, due process of law and the freedom of assembly.
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The Fourth of July is all these things and much more—and yet, we can’t truly appreciate these freedoms without acknowledging the blood, sweat and courage of those who fought to secure our freedom as a nation—those men and women of our military who fought and continue to fight so we can be free.


Let’s always honor their patriotism, valor and dedication—and never forget their unending sacrifices.

This Declaration of Freedom is like no other...

The Fourth of July is yet another opportunity for us to remember that our most precious freedom is our freedom in Christ. It is a magnificent gift from the Lord that was bought at a high cost—the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died on Calvary.


His death on the cross paid our sin debt in full. This Declaration of Freedom is like no other. The Lord also saw fit to grant us a Holy Bible—our Christian Declaration of Independence—which contains hundreds of verses reaffirming our freedom in Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is, by far, the most profound proclamation of our freedom in Christ. Here are a few verses from 2 Corinthians 3:17:


  • It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yolk of slavery. Galatians 5:1
  • For one who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:7
  • Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
 
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The Fourth of July is more than just a date on the calendar to light the grill. It is a joyous occasion upon which to celebrate life, liberty, love of country and freedom in Christ—and share the gospel. Don’t let attempts to stifle our freedom diminish your love for this country.


It is a grand reminder that the flame of freedom burns its brightest when we share our freedom in Christ plus our love for the country He so generously created for us to enjoy.

PRAYER: "Heavenly Father, thank you for the splendid gift of freedom—that you so bountifully gave to us because you love us with an everlasting love. We thank you Lord for the luxurious privilege of living in the United States of America. We humbly acknowledge that we are a nation in desperate need of You. We have ignored the very principles upon which this nation was founded.


Lord, remind us daily that we are fully dependent upon You—and, we are asking You for restoration, healing and divine intervention—that we may be the nation whose God is the Lord. When trouble comes our way, please help us not to be shaken—rather, please keep the ground steady beneath us so our ankles do not turn. Lord, thank you for the gift of freedom. We are eternally grateful. It is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen."


'If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' -2 Chronicles 7:14



Sheryl Sellaway, Guest Contributor
 
 

Happy Fourth of July!
 
 
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