WATCHWORD:
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his own. 13-15 The Lord gazes down upon mankind from heaven where he lives. He has made their hearts and closely watches everything they do. […] 18-19 But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine! 20 We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield. Psalm 33:12-15, 18-20
1 Obey the government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God. Romans 13:1-2
Meditation:
What is Patriotism?
Remember:“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Our loyalty is not to a piece of cloth waving in the breeze, it is to God Almighty and to this Nation, founded and guided by Him. This is where we started, this is where we must continue.
What is patriotism? Does it change after someone experiences war? Every generation seems to redefine patriotic behavior. In the aftermath of recent terrorism and war, Americans are faced with how to think about freedom and how to protect it. Does patriotism mean displaying the flag or practicing dissent or both? Our veterans challenge us with provocative questions on the nature of our patriotism and offer highly personal answers.
I was 18 when I enlisted in the Army. It was just after Christmas that year. It seemed inevitable that my “number” would come up soon and I would be drafted. Besides, I lost my military deferment when I was academically disqualified from college. So, I took the not-so-patriotic step of enlisting. (from my post, On Being a Vet)
I had reasoned in my 18-year-old brilliance, that by enlisting I would have the option to post in Europe instead of war-torn Korea. Funny how misinformation causes plans to backfire! Next thing I knew, I was on a troop-ship heading to Korea. Earlier, it had seemed a right decision, but right then it didn’t, and I was scared. In retrospect, the experience was important for me, it informed my own view of human devastation and loss, caused by greed and misused power.
It is true, that we learn from our decisions, good and bad. More than that, we learn from those decisions that our free will, a gift from God, has allowed us to make, and then we must live with the consequences. I do not recall one time in all those days on the Pacific, heading to Korea, praying to the Lord for help, but, once on the DMZ, “Lord help us” was on the minds of so many.
At the core of anyone who serves this country for the good of all our neighbors and friends, is an awareness of dedicating a portion of themselves to this nation. It becomes engrained, and at some point, each of us has been struck by the notion we we are doing it for all, every one of us. As it should be.
One nation under God. It is a rare gift and one we must cherish, even when the price is high and requires our commitment. Patriotism is how this nation will survive. It is nothing less then our life blood. So be it.
Not To Forget:
America the Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
God, We Need You:
As a nation, God, help us to desire righteousness more than rights, and to mirror sacrifice more than selfishness. You know us well, and You understand our flaws. Turn those weaknesses into strengths; bathe us with Your grace and mercy, though none of us deserve it. Fill us with the boldness to choose the kind of freedom that will benefit all, rather than a few. Open our eyes to see others as You do—with godly potential and value. But help us, too, to recognize our own pride in trying to elevate ourselves and others above You and Your purpose for our lives. We need, You, God. Oh, how we need You! You have exercised nothing but faithfulness and fairness in Your treatment of our country, even when we’ve turned our back on You and forgotten Your goodness to us. Your discipline at times is hard, but You are just. Your purpose is always to draw us close to You, to bless us, and to make us a great nation who honors You. You are a good, good, Father—and Your love is reflected throughout this nation. It is with gratitude, Lord, that we praise You and give You all the honor in the Name of our Lord. Amen.
