Tuesday, July 4, 2017
1 Timothy 2:1 I urge … that thanksgiving be made … for kings and all those in authority.
GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES (2)
Some years back I visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. As I toured the museum I was able to view some interesting exhibits that recounted the life of Lincoln, including the history leading up to the Civil War before Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth. It brought home to me how richly God has blessed America through the years by giving us capable government leaders. He's also blessed us by giving us men and women who have been willing to make the supreme sacrifice of giving their lives to preserve our American way of life.
True, there may be government leaders whom we do not like. We may disagree with various policies they espouse and laws they enact. Yet despite all their flaws and defects God has seen fit to bless us through them in many ways. He's enabled us to live in a land where we can practice our faith openly and assemble at His house for worship each week. We can we read our Bibles without fear of reprisal. We can teach the saving truths of the Gospel to our children. We can join with our brothers and sisters in Christ in doing mission work.
When we view these blessings against the backdrop of the corruption pervading our society, the trampling on God's commandments, people living their lives in a way that gives no thought for the world to come, we must readily confess that the blessings we enjoy in America are due solely to the undeserved love God has shed on us. "He is patient with [us], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Peace, prosperity, and health, Private bliss, and public wealth,
Knowledge with its gladdening streams, True religion's holier beams,
Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 572:3)
