June

The United States of America is a very young country. For example, I have been alive for 28 percent of the country’s life. Compared to our European counterparts, we are still in diapers.

We are a young country for sure. And we have made plenty of mistakes along the way. At the same time, we are celebrating the 250^th birthday of our country. The celebration this year is going to be huge. 

Our country was founded on the basic understanding of “life, liberty, and the pursuit  of happiness.” We were freed from the oppression of another country. We are free to express our opinions. We are free to worship God in the ways we want. We are equal amongst each other and before God.

And we are free to serve. We are free to place our lives in the service of others. We are free to serve at the at the needs of our country. AND, as Christians, we have a greater freedom to serve our fellow man on behalf of God.

We are free to be servants of God in Christ Jesus. We are free to set aside our freedoms to take care of the needs of other people. But most of all, we were freed from ourselves and our sinful nature. God caused that freedom. God made that work because of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave Himself to us and for us. Jesus said, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” Jesus died at the hands of jealous, fearful, angry, and mean men in order to bring salvation to you! Jesus surrendered His equality with the Father in order to become a servant and a sacrifice for all humanity. Jesus laid His life down so that we will live with Him, for Him, and about Him.

And now, we lay our lives down for the sake of God the Father. We can do that. We can sacrifice ourselves because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. 

And we live in a country where we are free to serve. We are free to help others be “the best that they can be.” We are free to put our lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation. 

Happy 250^th birthday, United States of America. God, bless our country, our leaders, and the people so that Your life is known and that Your grace is freely shared. We pray this in the name of Jesus, amen. 

Pastor Robert