America

Who Are You Going To Trust?

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The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 ESV

Even some of my American friends may not know that here in the United States our national motto is “In God We Trust.” Ironically, this motto appears, neither on our flag, nor in our constitution but on our money, and was introduced not at the height of our prosperity, but during the darkest days of our Civil War. It came about in response to a letter from a Reverend Watkinson appealing to the Treasury Secretary, that we as a nation needed to publicly acknowledge God if we were to receive His help. Though the letter was sent in 1861, it took three years to be instituted. Finally in 1864, when, despite the many victories of the Northern States, the painful reality was that both sides were suffering devastation, death and tragedy on a scale never seen before in our history. Then, just when our hopes were at their lowest “In God We Trust” was introduced on the 2-cent piece. This national decision at that pivotal time, should be a wake-up call for us in the midst of social upheaval, violence, and division. We need to realize that we will never be blessed as “One nation under God” until we remember that our trust in God must not be a bold boast, but a cry to Him for help. Today’s verse reminds us that our greatest hope is not in victory, nor in success, but in the promise that our God will hear our cry. He is our hope this morning and for every morning. Whatever our disappointment; Whatever our despair; whatever our weakness: God has promised to hear us, to come to us and to comfort us, if we put our trust in Him. Of course, that doesn’t imply that everything in our lives will wonderful when we trust God, but that whatever we face, He has promised to be right by our side because we belong to Him!

“We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart.”
Charles Spurgeon
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Statue of Liberty

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Known worldwide as a symbol of American freedom, the Statue of Liberty was actually a gift to us from the nation of France, with donations coming from around the world. When I had the chance to visit there a few years ago, I saw a plaque with words written by the poet Emma Lazarus. Emma originally used her poem to raise funds for the project and though the statue was opened to the public in 1886, she was forgotten. But friends of Emma remembered her words and continued to lobby for them to be included until finally her they were added in 1903.The second verse which we most remembered says:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus

Yesterday at our community clubhouse, we observed a moment of silence in remembrance of those who had given their lives in defense of the liberty spoken of on the base of that statue. But we must not lose sight that even more than those freedoms, Jesus came to offer an even greater freedom: and He, instead of raising a torch, was Himself raised up on a cross to die. Today, Jesus is calling out to you and me with words that are not written on a bronze plaque but are spoken to our hearts by Holy Spirit.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
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Presidential Pardons

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He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. MIcah 6:8 NKJV

On January 20, 1977, President Jimmy Carter was sworn into office. One of the moments that I most fondly remember from that day was when our new president opened his Bible and read this verse from the book of Micah. Today I was reminded of those words by the reactions of political commentators from both the left and right. Strangely enough just about everyone seems to be angry about mercy. Some are incensed by President Trump pardoning 1,500 folks from the January 6th event, and others are angry about President Biden’s pardoning of a variety of people including his family. Almost everyone is demanding justice, few are remembering mercy. Today’s verse reminds us that God requires justice, but he loves mercy. On the day that the Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they were pretty intent on justice. Yet while they were busy making their demands known, Jesus simply stooped down and began writing in the dust. I bet that made them even madder! When no one seemed to take the hint, Jesus finally stood up and said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)

That really got their attention and then things got really quiet. Finally, one by one, beginning with the oldest (Yup that’s me!) they began to drop their rocks and head home. Then Jesus turned to the woman and gave her a pathway to justice by telling her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11b) God loves mercy, Jesus loves mercy, and we Christians ought to love mercy more than anyone else. We are all just like that woman, because we have received the most. So, why not put our stones, and begin loving mercy, practicing forgiveness and praying for our nation and its leaders to do the same!