As we reflect on the blessings and freedoms we enjoy, it’s vital to remember both the cost of liberty and its true source. The sacrifices made by those who came before us—those who signed the Declaration of Independence, who lost homes, fortunes, and even their lives—remind us that freedom is never free. Yet, the deeper truth is that the greatest liberty does not come from any human document or government, but from God Himself. Our nation was founded on Christian principles, and the historical record is clear: early American leaders and institutions recognized the authority of God and the centrality of Christ. Over time, however, we have drifted from these roots, allowing “high places”—idols of the heart, family, and culture—to remain unchallenged.
Idolatry is not just an ancient problem; it is a present reality. Anything that captures our heart or imagination more than God—whether it’s family, success, comfort, or pleasure—can become an idol. Even good things, when given the wrong place in our lives, enslave us and shape us into their image. Jesus’ call is radical: to love Him above all, even above family and self, and to die daily to our own desires. We cannot serve two masters. The early church was marked by devotion to God, to one another, and to prayer—not to money or comfort.
As individuals, families, and as a church, we are called to examine our hearts, to tear down the high places, and to return to wholehearted devotion to God. The empty tomb of Jesus is our declaration of true independence—freedom from sin, death, and the curse. Because Christ is risen, anything is possible, no matter how far we or our nation have strayed. Our first responsibility is to submit ourselves to God, then to lead our families in faith, to be united as a church on mission, and to pray for national revival. The hope for our nation, our families, and our own souls is not found in politics or nostalgia, but in a living, risen Savior. Let us commit ourselves anew to follow Him, remembering the faith of our fathers and the call to be a blessing to generations yet to come.
Psalm 33:12 (ESV) — > Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
> the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
2 Chronicles 20:32-33 (ESV) — > He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.
Luke 14:26-27 (ESV) — > If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
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