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At this time, as we rejoice our nation’s beginning, maybe no larger image extra visibly shows the will, and name, upon our residents to patriotism than our American flag.
In Could 1776, it was not solely their shared allegiance to their quickly to be nation, however their shared religion that birthed our American flag. Two Episcopalians George Washington and Betsy Ross, who worshiped collectively at Christ Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, labored with a small and secret committee to design a permanent image for our new nation’s future.
The top end result was spelled out within the cloth of Previous Glory – white stars on a blue background, with alternating stripes of pink and white. The celebrities would develop in quantity because the states did… from the unique 13 to the 50 there now. Blue, the image for vigilance, perseverance, justice and freedom. White for purity and innocence. And Crimson, hardiness, braveness, valor and, in fact, the value of blood so typically paid for the liberty we now get pleasure from.
![American flag](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/12/640/320/American-Flag-iStock.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
God’s blessing of America, like many issues God does, is a partnership association. (iStock)
For individuals who love our nation and all for which it stands, when referred to as to pledge our allegiance – we stand, we take away our hats, we silence our dialog. We place our palms over our hearts and we promise but once more our loyalty – as we should always – to the important intangible qualities of a free land entrusted to our care by God Almighty.
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Whatever the polarizing strains of identification politics that some promote, the overwhelming majority of People nonetheless maintain to the fact that we’re “One Nation Beneath God,” and that, as our Declaration of Independence states, we’re “…endowed by our Creator with sure unalienable Rights… amongst them, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
At this time, many people will sing in celebration, Irving Berlin’s phrases, “God Bless America.” However for our time, it’d as nicely be as a lot of a prayer as it’s a patriotic hymn.
A minute or two with the headlines of any newspaper, or the primary two minutes of any information channel, are sufficient to inform us that we want one thing past ourselves to assist us. No matter we’re doing on our personal, is doing little, if something to stem the tide of cultural divisiveness, racial disharmony, pervasive political corruption and unceasing violence. We want one thing past ourselves – to assist us, to save lots of us – to bless us.
Whereas I provide these phrases as a Christian pastor, my work alongside non secular leaders from all traditions, would agree – that God’s blessing of America, like many issues God does, is a partnership association.
Sure, God’s blessings are all the time initiated with God Himself, however all the nice tales of religion provide a deep reality – that a lot of what God does – is finished not simply “for” these made in God’s picture, however “with” them – alongside them. Abraham, the Father of Hebrews, Christians and Muslims – was promised by God an inheritance, however with a view to declare it, he must set himself on God’s path – trusting and believing, by religion, that holding God’s hand, he would in the end obtain that promise.
What, at present, would possibly assist us in that partnership with God? To your consideration — utilizing the flag as a type of background, let me provide a number of solutions as a 4th of July meditation of type.
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First, let the pink in our flag recall for you the phrase, “Bear in mind.” Bear in mind the value paid on your freedom – from the Alamo to Gettysburg, from Anzio to Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. Bear in mind, too, those that responded to terrorist assaults inside our personal borders. It’s unimaginable to essentially take within the sacrifice of life, limb and family members for the reason for freedom, however it isn’t unimaginable to be eternally grateful.
Solely weeks in the past, my spouse and I visited Omaha Seashore in Normandy. As we walked off the seaside, a younger couple was laughing as they snapped images with two of their toddlers – a scene not doable on the identical seaside that solely 79 years earlier than was soaked within the blood of allied troopers who paved the best way, not only for a free Europe, however a free world – and a scene that completely would by no means have been if the launch of D-Day had not turned the tide of that horrible struggle.
Later, as we gazed upon the over 9,000 graves of People buried simply above that very same seaside, no phrases match what solely the guts might really feel – humility and gratitude.
Round our globe, we see the beginning pains of countries hoping and praying for what you and I’ve had for nicely over 200 years. Bear in mind. Bear in mind the value that has been paid. And bear in mind a value that top can also be a treasure unimaginable to worth – besides via the reward of grateful remembrance. So – bear in mind.
Second, while you see that “white” in our Flag, let it deliver up for you the phrase “wait” that was so typically used all through the story of God’s partnership with His kids. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “…they who await the Lord shall renew their energy; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and never be weary; they shall stroll and never faint…” (Isaiah 40:31).
![George H.W. Bush](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2018/12/640/320/AP18294060844995.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
President George H.W. Bush talks to reporters within the Rose Backyard of the White Home on Feb. 11, 1991. (AP Photograph/Ron Edmonds, File)
To “wait” upon the Lord means what it says – in all issues we interact with God, take heed to God’s voice. We do this by being deliberately concerned in our worshiping communities.
Nonetheless one feels concerning the complete response to the pandemic, I feel it’s honest to say that a number of the painful signs of cultural decline we’re witnessing throughout us are the fruit of our two years of being separated from each other within the holy locations the place we pray collectively, sing collectively, hear the previous, previous tales – collectively, in ways in which we’re reworked by God’s voice, and that usually occurs in what the ancients referred to as koinonia – neighborhood – fellowship.
Two years into his presidency, George Herbert Walker Bush confessed in a speech, “I’ve been honored to function president of this nice nation for 2 years now and imagine greater than ever that one can’t be America’s president with out belief in God. I can not think about a world, a life, with out the presence of the One via whom all issues are doable.”
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He went on to recall that great quote of Abraham Lincoln on the top of the Civil Warfare when requested if he thought the Lord was on his aspect. Lincoln responded, “My concern shouldn’t be whether or not God is on our aspect, however whether or not we’re on God’s aspect.”
![](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/11/640/320/iStock-Abraham-Lincoln.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
When requested if he thought the Lord was on his aspect through the Civil Warfare, Lincoln responded, “My concern shouldn’t be whether or not God is on our aspect, however whether or not we’re on God’s aspect.” (Digital restoration by Steven Wynn)
Wait upon God and the advanced will turn out to be easy; the unknown might be revealed, the reality will, because the Bible tells, us make itself recognized. And when it does, it is going to set you free out of your agenda, to serve God and His. So – wait… and wait.
Lastly, the B of that blue reminds us of our partnership with God. Merely to – “Be.” This may occasionally appear to be a no brainer – however you and I should not simply referred to as to imagine the religion, however to “be” the religion.
Jesus mentioned, “You will have heard that it was mentioned, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ However I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for many who persecute you… For in the event you love those that love you, what reward do you might have? That’s simple to do … No… love your neighbor… love your enemy… pray on your neighbor… pray on your enemy.”
That is what many name one of many “laborious sayings of Jesus,” however there it’s. Are you not exhausted by a polarized world the place the tradition warriors assume the reality can solely be discovered within the extremes, the ends of the spectrum? Is there not a greater approach? There’s.
![Flag Day fireworks](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/06/640/320/Screen-Shot-2022-06-13-at-11.47.34-AM.png?ve=1&tl=1)
A Flag Day celebration in Quincy, Massachusetts, on June 11, 2022. (Richard Ash)
All the nice faiths stand collectively on this one – one of the simplest ways to associate with God and be energetic brokers of God’s work on the planet is to like everybody – love those that you want to like – and extra importantly – love those that are the precise reverse of you.
Meaning in case you are a Republican – that you must love Democrats with whom you disagree… and in case you are a Democrat, that you must love Republicans with whom you disagree. And in case you are one thing else – nicely, you discover a strategy to love all of them.
I typically remind folks within the congregation I serve that those that bear the picture of God of their being, shouldn’t mirror the picture of the world. Because the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “Don’t conform …to the sample of this world, however be reworked by the renewing of your thoughts…” (12:2). The medication for the world through which we stay is all the time a thoughts that is aware of the best advantage is love.
Let that blue, remind you to “be” the particular person God calls on you to be – which might imply doing essentially the most god-like factor you are able to do – loving all you encounter. Loving doesn’t imply agreeing, and it actually doesn’t imply endorsing issues inconsistent with the virtues of our nice religion traditions; but it surely does imply loving – even, maybe particularly – those that hate us. It’s not the best way of the world, however it’s God’s approach.
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![milwaukee american flag](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/07/640/320/GettyImages-456339524.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
An American flag flies exterior the U.S. Financial institution Middle on Sept. 20, 2014, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Pictures)
We’re at our greatest after we do not forget that name of John F. Kennedy so a few years in the past, “Ask not what your nation can do for you, ask what you are able to do on your nation.” The very best service we will render our nation is to like her, love her values, cherish our freedom, and love all these inside her borders, in addition to those that search to benefit from the liberties we share. Loving service — not selfishness – is a vital constructing block within the human who seeks to stay out the Christian life. So,be.
Crimson, white and blue. Crimson – bear in mind. White – wait, wait upon the Lord. And blue – be the kid of God you might be referred to as to be.
Etched on the nice Liberty Bell, which made its strategy to the colonies from the London Foundry of Lester and Pack in 1752, is a portion of Leviticus, 25:10, “Proclaim LIBERTY all through all of the land unto all of the inhabitants thereof.” By 1776, the bell would symbolize freedom from tyranny – freedom to be a nation unto ourselves.
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This present day, could we – not simply with our hearts and hopes, however with our lips and our actions – “Proclaim Liberty.” How are you going to and I do this? Reply to the invitation from Previous Crimson, White and Blue to recollect, to attend and to be the creatures of God that God created us to be.
Certainly, God bless America. Collectively, with God and with each other, we will deliver that hope to the instances through which we stay, and pave the best way for the blessings God seeks to bestow.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM REV. DR. RUSSELL LEVENSON, JR.
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