WATCHWORD:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
“So now, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplications, and for your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine…” Daniel 9:17.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
Meditation:
Four Score and Seven
One-hundred fifty-eight years ago, on this date, November 19, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stood on the bloodied ground of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and delivered a brief, but memorable address of national unity. Many, reading this essay, have vivid memories of having to memorize the speech, maybe when you were in the eighth grade. For me, memorization was never fun!
While the address was given 158 years ago, Lincoln’s words are relevant today. Throughout the Bible there are multiple references to the clash between the forces of good and evil; Adam and Eve in The Garden, David and Goliath, Jesus in the wilderness, etc. I venture to say that where good exists, evil will be lurking around the corner to cast truth in the shade of darkness.
The Battle of Gettysburg is but one example from our “modern-day” history, but there have been countless times within our life time where evil seemingly persists, distorting reality, and redefining truth in light of ego or selfish aspirations. All of these forces seem to raise the question, is God still in it? Is, “In God We Trust”, an outdated motto, or do we believe it?
Let me cast a little light on the shade that some would give the motto that came with the founding of this blessed nation. Our motto does not say, “In Catholicism We trust”, or “In Judaism We trust”, or “In Islam We trust.” No, every worldwide gathering of faith has God in the center of worship. To deny this is to defy the facts. “In God we trust” would be an accepted true statement in every case. Check it out for yourself.
Bulletin Board:
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Closing Prayer:
Father, we come before You now and cry out for America. We are in desperate need of peace in our nation. We humbly ask that You bring that bond of peace Your Word speaks of. Equip and encourage us as believers to keep the unity of the Spirit. May believers be a model of unity in these troubling days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
