Saturday, July 4, 2009
Prayer: O God, grant health and prosperity to all that are in authority everywhere, to presidents, governors, legislators, parliaments, and all judges and magistrates, and endue them with grace to rule according to Your good pleasure, to the maintenance of righteousness and to the hindrance and punishment of wickedness, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (Adapted from the General Prayer, The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 23.)
ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE
The year 1991 marked the 50th anniversary of the Mount Rushmore monument in western South Dakota and much was made of the four faces carved into the rock--those of the American presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt. Much was said too about the vision and leadership of the four men.
But did you know that though not all were Christians, all of these presidents shared a genuine respect for the word of God, the Bible?
George Washington, while president, made it a practice to retire to his study at 9:00 every night to use his Bible in prayer. He made no exceptions when he had company, receptions, or state dinners.
Lincoln once said, "The Bible is the best gift God has given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated through this book."
Theodore Roosevelt believed that, "It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based in the principles of the Bible."
Men and women great and small time and again have put God's word to the test of regular usage and found all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable.
