PLUS

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

Matthew 20:28 “Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Our nation’s founders lived lives of service and sacrifice.  They set aside the ease of a privileged life under powerful British rule because they felt the call of liberty.  They risked everything to author and sign the Declaration of Independence, and to fight for our nation’s independence and freedom.  They endured hardships to craft the U.S. Constitution and to grow a new nation. They did so out of a thirst for liberty, and their service still impacts us today.

Even more so, our Savior lived a life of service and sacrifice.  He set aside the ease of His heavenly throne because He knew that we would need liberty that only He could provide.  He endured unimaginable hardships to give His life a ransom for many.  He did so out a love for each and every one of us, and his service still impacts heaven and earth today.

In today’s culture, selfishness is elevated over service.  We laud those who accumulate and ignore those who distribute.  We idolize those who gather and dismiss those who give away.  We award those who have servants, and create punchlines about those who serve.  We celebrate those whose use of liberty is extreme and excessive, and mock those whose use of liberty is restrained and reserved.  Service is subjugated to self, even among Christians.

We would not have national liberty if our forefathers felt the same way.  We would not have spiritual liberty if our Savior felt the same way.  We cannot expect either type of liberty to characterize this land if we don’t once again elevate and celebrate service driven by a love of one another.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF SERVICE ONCE AGAIN IN THIS LAND.  It should be a fundamental part of every neighborhood, every church, every community, every town, every city, every state, and throughout the nation. We should seek to serve everyone with whom we come into contact.  May Christians lead the way.  Let us never use liberty as an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In the week after the 231^stanniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, it is important to reflect upon one of its foundational principles stemming from the Declaration of Independence.  That document boldly proclaims “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 these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  These rich thoughts stem from Biblical truths.

In a world characterized by polarization and division, we are quickly diverging from an important founding pillar – that all men are created equal because all men are created in the image of God.  As such, there is no room for the intolerable hate that often is directed towards those who are different from us.  This is especially true for Christians who are disrespecting our God whenever we treat anyone in a way not characterized with full dignity and respect.  God created each person just as much as He created you.  He loves each person just as much as He loves you.  Your disrespect for others will not separate them from God’s love, but will only separate you from God’s will.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.  God’s image is reflected in each person, and we honor Him by treating them accordingly.

Mark 2:21-22 “No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but the new wine must be put into new bottles.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

In the midst of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation on November 15^th, 1777.  This document, our nation’s first constitution, established the form of our federal government as we fought for and eventually won our independence. Yet, it was far from perfect.

By 1787, it had become clear that major structural changes were needed to create a viable and sustainable federal government.  With this in mind, a Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House to revise the flawed construct.  As they looked at the changes required, however, they realized that the only real way forward was to start over.  In those hot summer months, from May 25^thto September 17^th, those founders created the United States Constitution.  Yes, in 116 days, the world saw an innovation of government unmatched in human history.  These men recognized the shortcomings of doing things the way they had always been done, refused to accept a few small fixes to cover up deep flaws, committed to doing something grand, and worked together in spite of their differences.

As we assess our lives and our ministries today, there are some things we can learn from the innovative and cooperative spirit of our founders.  While the core doctrines of our faith are unchanging, what are we clinging to from the past unnecessarily that is hindering our ability to make an impact for Christ today?

Are we ignoring the shortcomings of doing things the way they have always been done?  Are we accepting a few small fixes to cover up any deep flaws?  Have we refused to work together to do something grand because of our differences? Are we trying to sew a piece of new cloth on an old garment?  Are we putting new wine into old bottles?

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD EMBRACE AN INNOVATIVE AND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT.  In less than four months, our founders scrapped the government that enabled victory in the Revolutionary War in order to create something that was magnificent and lasting.  What can we do that is magnificent and lasting in our lives or in our ministries?

Matthew 5:44-47 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:  for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?  do not even the publicans so?”

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Because we are Christians in America in 2018, there are those who will oppose us.  They will curse us.  They will hate us.  They will despitefully use us.  They will persecute us.

In reality, this isn’t unique to American Christians in 2018.  It has happened to believers throughout history.

As we stand strong and unwavering in our beliefs, Jesus gives us the perfect checklist to follow. As we are cursed, hated, used, and persecuted, we are to respond in a way that is refreshingly different and distinct from the world.  We are to do good to our opposition; we are to pray for them; we are to love them.

After all, this is the checklist that Jesus Himself followed.  He loved those who opposed Him.  He did good to those who hated Him.  He prayed for those who despitefully used Him.

If we are to make the impact that God intends for us, then we are to follow His ways.  They are greater than our ways!

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY RESPOND TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE US IN A WAY THAT FOLLOWS JESUS’ ADMONITION AND EXAMPLE. Maybe by doing so, we can have the impact that Jesus intends for us.  Maybe by loving our enemies, we can prompt revival in this land!

Matthew 23:26-28 “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia defines lavish luxury.  It has a lineage that traces back to 1778, with its current structure built in 1913.  The hotel’s beautiful façade provides an indulgent escape for the rich and famous, perfect for presidents and prime ministers, and kings and queens.  Yet, for several decades during the Cold War, there was more to the Greenbrier than met the eye.

In the late 1950s, the United States Government coordinated with the Greenbrier to build a massive underground bunker beneath a new addition to the resort.  This bunker, which could house 1,100 people, was to be the emergency relocation center for Congress in the case that a national emergency would prompt their evacuation from Washington DC.  It was ready at all times, and constantly stocked with fresh supplies for over three decades though it was never used.  Only those staff members with the most stringent security clearances and the tightest need-to-know rationales ever knew what was going on underneath the surface.  It was only after it was revealed by a 1992 news story and subsequently decommissioned that the vast majority in Congress even knew of its existence. The subterranean was cleverly hidden from view, though its existence played a major role in the overall character of the resort.

Sometimes in the lives of Christians, the subterranean is cleverly hidden from view, though its existence plays a major role in the overall character of the individual.  God directs that it would not be so.  We are to be outwardly and inwardly righteous.  While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart.

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR INTEGRATED CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY WOULD BRING HONOR TO GOD.  May we never allow subterranean subterfuge to hinder our ability to serve the Lord.