O Beautiful
O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America, America! God shed His grace on thee, Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! –“America” an original poem published in 1893 by Katherine Lee Bates, later revised and added to music to become “America the Beautiful”
Today, in the United States of America, we celebrate the anniversary of our becoming an independent nation via the historic adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which declared the separation of our colonies from the rule of the British.
This July 4th is a first for me. I will not be in the United States and will not be with most of my family to celebrate this holiday devoted to our freedom as individuals and as a country. I will be spending the day riding on a coach headed from Switzerland to Germany.
I was blessed with the opportunity to come to Europe with my daughter as part of a youth band and choir group from my state. We are spending a total of fifteen days in Europe, traveling to five different countries where the students have been performing. We have been to England, France, and Switzerland. We arrive in Germany today and will finish the tour in Austria before returning to the U.S.
While no place compares to home for me, traveling to these countries and seeing the beauty and majesty of God’s creation in other parts of the world has been amazing. I don’t know how anyone breathing in the fresh mountain air while viewing the sunrise on the peaks of the Swiss Alps could feel anything but awe, peace, and gratitude for God’s tapestry on full display.
“I will mediate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous work,” (Psalm 145:5).
Sometimes we get so busy in life that we forget to slow down and enjoy this exquisite world the Lord created. We often take for granted the air we breathe, the feel of sunshine on our faces, the water that quinches thirst and cleanses us, and the natural magnificence that is all around us.
When you are feeling overwhelmed or troubled, I encourage you to take some time to get outside for a walk, jog, or hike or simply sit and soak-in God’s presence that surrounds you. You will likely find, as I do, that this is rejuvenating for the body, cleansing for the mind, and healing for the soul.
God’s work is in the wind that cools the sweat on your brow, in the grass that cushions your steps, in the stream that bubbles across the rocks, in the leaves with their tableau of seasonal shades, in the uniqueness of each falling snowflake, in the scent of your favorite flower, in the sweet music of the songbirds, and in the brilliance of the stars. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” (Psalm 19:1).
As you witness the wonder of the Lord’s perfect creation, don’t forget to give Him praise. For we know that the earth was created perfectly because God approved of it. “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” (Genesis 1:31).
God’s glory is evident throughout the natural landscapes of the earth including those in our great nation, and all are called to praise Him for it. “Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens,” (Psalm 148:7-13).
I Pledge Allegiance
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. -“Pledge of Allegiance” -initial revisal by Francis Bellamy and adopted by Congress in 1942, later revised in 1954
Allegiance is defined by Oxford Dictionary online as “loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause”. Allegiance is a serious concept that centers around respect, devotion, and trust. It shouldn’t be taken lightly.
People may pledge their allegiance to different things or individuals, such as to an employer, to a spouse, to a public service position, to military service, and to a country, as we do through our Pledge of Allegiance. After reciting a pledge many times over, I feel we often lose sight of the importance of the words and what we’re pledging to. It just becomes a monotonous routine we perform.
Therefore, as we celebrate our nation’s independence today, let us not forget that as citizens of the United States of America, we pledge our allegiance to this country and all it stands for every time we stand and recite it in front of our flag. Since 1954, our Pledge of Allegiance has been as it is typed above. Therefore, when saying the pledge, it should be recited in full, word for word.
Apart from the Pledge of Allegiance, I have pledged myself to other things as well. Through 4-H, we make a pledge of head, heart, hands, and health to our club, community, country, and world. I pledged my service to my local school district and the constituents when elected to a position on the Board of Education. Through my marriage vows, I made a lifelong pledge of commitment to my husband. Most importantly, as a Christian, I pledged my allegiance to God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit through my salvation, profession of faith, and baptism.
The Bible tells us that pledges are important and should be upheld. “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said,” (Numbers 30:2).
Are you upholding the pledges you’ve made? Who or what are you pledging your allegiance to today? Is it to money, prestige, physical fitness, revenge, your job, yourself, someone else? If you’re not sure, look at what you prioritize in your life. That will be a good indication.
You may not have said a pledge of allegiance, but whatever you put most of your time and energy into is what or whom you are serving. The Bible instructs us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other…”
Jezebel was a woman of the Bible who held no allegiance to the Lord. You can read more about her in various passages spanning 1 Kings 16:31-2 Kings 9:37. She was a Phoenician princess who was devoted to the false god Baal. After marrying Ahab, the king of Israel, she persuaded him to introduce Baal worship to the Israelite people. She also forced others to convert to Baal worship and murdered most of the Lord’s prophets.
Jezebel was also devoted to power and greed and did evil because of these. After the Lord and the prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Jezebel was furious and promised revenge on Elijah. “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life that of one of them,’” (1 Kings 19:1-2).
Additionally, through manipulation and false accusations, Jezebel had an innocent man named Naboth stoned to death because her husband wanted the man’s vineyard for himself, and Naboth refused to sell it. Because of this, God sent a message to Ahab through Elijah foretelling the death of Ahab, his descendants, and Jezebel. “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel,’” (1 Kings 21:23).
We find this promise was fulfilled. In her vanity, just moments before her death, Jezebel was primping herself. “Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window,” (2 Kings 9:30). Then, her servants turned on her and threw her out the window where she was trampled on and devoured by animals so there was nothing of her left to bury.
Learn from the mistakes of Jezebel and those of the Israelite people who kept turning to false gods repeatedly despite all God had done for them. Each time they did this, it never ended well for them.
Therefore, take note of your life and your allegiances. If your devotion to the Lord has become lax or nonexistent, know that fortunately, He is willing to forgive if you ask Him and repent. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).
Freedom is Not Free
As we celebrate our country’s independence today, it is also important to remember that all freedom comes at a price. For the U.S, the price was time, effort, money, and the deaths of many colonists who courageously stood up and opposed the British between 1765 and 1783.
The Constitution of the United States of America and the twenty-seven amendments attached to it since its ratification give us, the citizens of the United States, several rights and freedoms, including the freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms, freedom to vote, and freedom of religion.
However, despite the many freedoms we have in the United States, true freedom can only come through Christ. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36). “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,” (Galatians 5:1).
To be free is to live without debt or restraints. We all have the debt and restraint of sin in our lives, and the price for that sin is death. However, when we are saved by the grace of God, that debt is paid through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Through the Holy Spirit, true freedom then rests on our souls. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
If you’re a Christian, take time to meditate on the depth of the freedom we gain through Christ Jesus. He frees us from those things that weigh us down, like guilt, shame, insecurity, and sin. However, know that this freedom doesn’t give us a pass to do whatever we want.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love,” (Galatians 5:13).
Enjoy your freedom in Christ as well as the liberties that come with citizenship in the United States of America. However, also remember the precious costs that came to obtain those freedoms, and never take them for granted.
Have a blessed week, and Happy Independence Day!
-Becky
