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MEDITATION:

This meditation is from Maranatha Christian Ministries.

We all know that the Bible says that man was created in the image of God. As God’s highest creation, and in that image, it is a given that man should be free. There is no scriptural foundation for any other teaching. That is one of the reasons that America is a great nation. It is founded on the liberating Biblical concept of freedom. When the citizens of the early colonies declared their freedom from and independence of England, it was a great day for freedom and the church. The United States was born. Since that time we have taken great pride in our freedoms and our independence from other tyrannical nations. It is a good thing to be free to worship God and that is what our founding fathers worked, fought, and died for. Sadly enough though, too many have taken that independent spirit too far and have become totally independent of any and all powers and entities, resulting in rebellion. As a Christian, independence is never more demonstrated than when we exercise total dependence on God. We were never intended to be independent of Him or His ways. He created us to depend on Him and thus to find our total fulfillment in Him, to find His perfect strength by acknowledging our own weakness. (2 Cor. 10: 9-10). On this day that we as Americans proudly, and justly so, give honor to our country, one nation under one God, let us also along with this day of independence declare that this is our Day Of Dependence. A day that we acknowledge that we depend on God for everything in this life. A day that we know that we live and move and have our being in Him. To God be the glory for our United States of America and for the liberty with which Christ has set us free. In Christ, we have real freedom.

PRAYER:

Written by William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to stop the slave trade.

Lord God, Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength and forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

MEDITATION:

Written by Thaddeus J. Williams, a contemporary professor of theology and ethics. This is an excerpt from his book “Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth.”

Paul refuses to interpret any inch of reality apart from God. To cut God off from our understanding is to block out the sun and bump around in the dark. We see everything in its truest light when we view it in light of God’s existence. That includes the way we see humanity’s grim track record of injustice as well as our own underrated capacity for evil…We pretend otherwise, but a transcendent power runs the universe, and deep down we know we are not him. God is God and we are not. We aren’t the Creator; we are the creatures. But we suppress that most fundamental truth about the basic structure of existence. This blurs out our vision of everything else…Refusing to give the Creator the honor and gratitude he is due, we turn and bow to the cosmos. We endow created things with an ultimate value that they are not due. This is a double injustice. We fail to give both the Creator and the creation what they are properly due. In Paul’s language, we “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…This tragedy plays out in gruesome detail throughout the Old Testament. Slavery, murder, rape, child abuse, and theft happen when people worship idols instead of God. The first commandment, to have no gods before God, is where any authentically Christian vision of justice begins. Devalue the original by putting something else in his place and it’s easier to treat the images of God like garbage. That is what is so profound about Paul’s take on injustice in Romans 1. He does not merely note that humanity is “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, [and] maliciousness,” then blames all that injustice on society and dream up a utopian political solution the way Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels did. Paul does not look at the bad fruit on the human tree and then suggest replanting it in the different soil of some new political ideology. Paul knows that the human tree is so hopelessly sick that whatever soil you plant it in, toxic fruit will form. No amount of political revolution, social engineering or policy tweaking will stop envy, strife, deceit, and maliciousness from sprouting out of our sick hearts. Why were all the utopias of the modern era doomed to fail? Because the evil did not originate in politics, society, or the economy. It is expressed there, but evil originates in human hearts that “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” and the sun and water and gold and sex and power…This is how Paul adds deeper hues to our picture of injustice. Look deep enough underneath any horizontal human-against-human injustice and you will always find a vertical human-against-God injustice, a refusal to give the Creator the worship only the Creator is due. All injustice is a violation of the first commandment.

PRAYER:

Written by William Temple (1881-1944), a bishop in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury.

O Almighty God, the Father of all humanity, turn, we pray, the hearts of all peoples and their rulers, that by the power of your Holy Spirit peace may be established among the nations on the foundation of justice, righteousness, and truth; through him who was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Tommy Nelson, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “A Life Well Lived.”

Solomon observes [in Ecclesiastes] the inequity of life. Sometimes bad guys win and good guys suffer. Johnny Christian doesn’t always score the touchdown, and Paul Pagan doesn’t always fumble the ball. That’s a fact. Do you have a problem with that? Would you rather have a “perfect” universe? Wouldn’t it be great if, after a driver ran you off the road, his car would break down five minutes later? Or if someone cheated you in business, he would go bankrupt the next month? Or if someone got angry and yelled at you, her teeth would fall out that night? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?  But unfortunately, you’d have to live in the same universe. So if you gossiped about someone, your tongue would turn green. Every time you lusted or envied another person, more of your hair would fall out. Every time you spent money on something you didn’t need, the food in your refrigerator would rot overnight. Would you want to live in a world like that? None of us want that kind of instant justice from God. God’s patience with sin is an incredible blessing—otherwise, all of us would come under His immediate judgment.  Here’s a fact to comfort us: There will be a day when God will deal with evil. The question is not, “Why does God not punish evil?” But, “Why does He not punish evil now?”  He will deal with it.

PRAYER:

The author of this prayer is unknown.

Heavenly Father, in your love you have called us to know you, led us to trust you, and bound our life with yours. Surround us with love and protect us from evil. Fill us with the holy spirit so we walk in the way of Christ and grow in our knowledge of your love.

MEDITATION:

Written by Laura Banning, a Bible Study instructor and author.

So we are back in Montana for the summer. We are living here in a small log cabin alongside a river, the Swan River. And as I look out at that river and see all of the activity surrounding it, I think of the verse John 7:38-39. “Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him.”The picture Jesus uses for life in the Holy Spirit is that of a river. Rivers are mentioned 150 times in Scripture, often as a picture of spiritual life, and for good reason. Israel was a desert, so a river to the children of Israel was grace. A river is life. If a river flows, life flourishes. If a river dries up, life dies. So it is with you and me and the Holy Spirit. As I look out the window and reflect on this, I see it as a beautiful analogy for how the Holy Spirit works in our lives … The Swan River is always flowing. It never stops. Yes, sometimes it’s higher and flowing faster than other times. And yes, there are rocks and obstacles in the way; but the river never stops flowing. This is a picture for how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. He is always working, all of the time whether or not it seems like it or feels like it. It’s true. We have a choice as to whether or not we will stay in the flow of His work, or not. He calls us to stay in His River. He calls us to stay in the flow of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. And as we do this, He will change us into the person that He made us to be! “The only way to become the person God made you to be is to live with the Spirit of God flowing through you like a river of living water.” (John Ortberg) I came across a verse in Psalms: “You give us drink from the River of Your delights.” (Psalm 36:8) What a great picture this is for us. Jesus calls everyone who believes in Him to come and drink freely from His “living water”. We receive this living water from the indwelling Holy Spirit, as we meditate on His Word and listen to Him. And then He tells us that rivers of living water will flow from our hearts.

PRAYER:

Written by Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran, an international speaker and author.

Loving Lord Jesus, help me to humble myself under Your mighty wings that I may receive Your healing touch in my mind, body, and soul. Please enable my soul to prosper that Your healing waters may flow. like rivers of living water from me to others. In Your matchless name, I pray. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Sergei Sosedkin, a contemporary pastor and native of Moscow, Russia.

If you ever meet ungrateful people, you know how much they can discourage you from doing good. Just recently we mailed a free Bible to one of our listeners. A few weeks later he sent us an angry letter saying that we sent a wrong translation in a cheap cover and with a font that isn’t large enough. Of course, there are many times when we ourselves display ungratefulness to others. Sadly, it comes to us so naturally that we often don’t even notice we have been unthankful to the people around us. It’s no wonder that the apostle Paul includes ungratefulness in his list of common sins peculiar to “the last days,” the era that began with Christ’s first coming. Obviously, being ungrateful is a serious thing in our social interactions, for it hurts others. But being ungrateful can also be deadly in our spiritual life, for it hurts God and damages our soul. Being ungrateful to Jesus means discounting his salvation and turning away from him. That’s why the Bible teaches us to carefully examine our hearts. The best biblical antidote for an ungrateful heart is this: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). Only by looking to the cross of Christ can we attain God-pleasing thankfulness.

PRAYER:

Written by Sergei Sosedkin, author of today’s meditation.

Lord, fill our hearts with thanksgiving to you for your love and salvation in Christ. Teach us to love our neighbors by showing our gratitude to them too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Eric Gagnon, a contemporary pastor and author.

From the time of the kings, to the exile and destruction of Jerusalem, to the rebuilding of the new temple, mankind has longed for rescue. When left to ourselves, we look for rescue through tangible things: people, institutions, things we can see and feel. Many are good gifts and provision from God. But only God can rescue us from the mess we’ve made on earth. Thankfully, God’s story, His Word, speaks truth and wisdom into this mess. God’s Word gives and brings true hope when it may feel that there is none.

God went before His people in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God remained with His people in the Holy of Holies in the temple. Both through visual evidence. God was “with” them. Yet, I am reminded of Jesus’ words in John 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” There is more to God than we will ever be able to see with our eyes. It’s always been God’s intention to “dwell with man on the earth” (2 Chronicles 6:18). He walked with us in the garden of Eden and intends to walk with us again when He returns. But when we see God in heaven, however grand His glory will be on that day, the face we look at will be none other than the face of Jesus.

PRAYER:

Written by Eric Gagnon, author of today’s meditation.

Heavenly Father, thank you for holding up a mirror to our own hearts as we read about your people in the past. We long to see You and be with You in greater ways. We often long for rescue, perhaps by You, but adding whatever else it is we can see and hold on to. Help us to let go of hoping in anything else but You for life and godliness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Joel Muddamalle, a contemporary pastor, theologian, author, and teacher. This is an excerpt from his article “Longing for Security.”

Take a moment and consider what makes you feel safe. For some of us, it’s a particular person or people, like our family. For others, it’s the comfort and familiarity of home. Still, for others, it’s access to tangible resources or objects that provide a sense of stability in what can often feel like a very unstable world…After years of insecurity and captivity in Egypt, the Israelites surely held to God’s promise that He would give them their own home, a place flowing with “milk and honey” (Exodus 3:17). And yet, after their captivity in Egypt, they spent much of their time wandering and waiting to arrive at the land God promised. As we follow the story of the Israelites, we discover that their journey to the promised land was as important, if not more important than their actual arrival in the promised land. Why? Because along the way the Israelites learned how to trust. They had to trust in God’s direction, protection, and provision…God used the Israelite’s journey as an opportunity for them to learn to trust in Him as their God who provided for and protected them. This was an important lesson to learn before they experienced the abundance in the promised land. Afterward, it would have been easy for them to shift their trust from God as their source of security to cities, walls, armies, and kingdoms…What if the journey or wilderness that we’re experiencing right now is God’s invitation to put our reliance and confidence in Him? If we view our experience through this lens, we may gain a security that enables us to sleep soundly through the night because it’s grounded in the knowledge that God is in control and nothing can fall out of His grip. Therefore, all is well.

PRAYER:

Written by Brigid of Kildare (451-525), one of Ireland’s patron saints, a nun and foundress of several monasteries of nuns.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God’s power to guide me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s eyes to watch over me;

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to give me speech,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to shelter me,

God’s host to secure me.

MEDITATION:

Written by A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), a pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor.  This is an excerpt from his book “The Pursuit of God.”

Retire from the world each day to some private spot even if it be only the bedroom (for a while I retreated to the furnace room for want of a better place). Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin to fade out of your heart ad a sense of God’s presence envelopes you…Listen for the inward Voice till you learn to recognize it. Stop trying to compete with others. Give yourself to God and then be what and who you are without regard to what others think.

PRAYER:

Written by Bonnie Gray, a contemporary author. This prayer is from her book “Why it Takes Courage to Choose Joy.”

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to hear your voice. Touch me once again. Give me the courage to be your beloved. Give me courage to choose joy. I need you now. Be born in me again. Today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Aaron D. Gerrard, a contemporary facilitator at a new church community.

Before Genesis 3, creation was as it was meant to be. After sin entered the scene, creation became distorted. Where there was once shalom, there is now disunity and brokenness. Where human intimacy with others and the Father once created a picture of compassion, love, and togetherness, there is now the marginalizing of people and injustice. Things are out of sorts. Spending time in church, you quickly notice the word “righteousness” popping up with regularity. Throughout Scripture the word is commonplace. God is righteous. Unfortunately, the word “righteousness” is often understood as a state of being. This isn’t entirely wrong, but it’s certainly incomplete. When the Scriptures speak of God’s righteousness, it’s more like an invasion of his goodness, or an active righting of wrongs. It is justice in the face of injustice. It is shalom in the face of disunity. This is essential to understanding our being transformed into righteous people through the Spirit’s work in us. As we become righteous as God is righteous, we are drawn into his movement of righting wrong, of removing the distorted view of creation. Psalm 85 poetically puts this movement of God into perspective. As Christians who are being shaped into the image of the Son, we walk as righteous people, playing our part in seeing that justice and peace walk together hand-in-hand in God’s creation restoration project. We’re not just being made right, we’re doing right.

PRAYER:

A prayer from the Common Lectionary of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Fill us with your strength

to resist the seductions of our foolish desires

and the tempter’s vain delights,

that we may walk in obedience and righteousness, rejoicing in you with an upright heart. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Dave Collins, a contemporary pastor, missionary, educator, international development worker, and founder of Paradigm Ministries.

I have watched you, Lord, through the lens of my own desperation. Bills coming due, income uncertain. I have watched you meet my needs, then go beyond the need to pleasures. Then go beyond the pleasures to blessings, then beyond the blessings to extravagance. It overwhelmed me. What I didn’t realize was that, in the extravagance, I shifted my sights to the blessings rather than to their Source. I began to look to see what else you would do instead of keeping my eyes on you. Your somehow became secondary to what I was receiving. The subtlety of blessing is that it is good; it is meant to be enjoyed. It isn’t meant to replace the pleasure of intimacy with God. Rather, it is designed to enhance it. So the question comes down to: When abundance becomes the norm, how can I keep my soul needy rather than distracted? What enables me to purchase extravagance? It is my willingness, my thirst. It draws me to want more. It doesn’t cease to be needy because it recognizes what is good and also what does not satisfy. Don’t become so enamored with the blessing that you pursue it rather than the Source. His invitation, though whispered, still penetrates to the place where I can hear him. “Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good…Give ear and come to me; listen that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you…”

PRAYER:

Written by Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), a Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and Christian theologian. He served as the archbishop of Canterbury from 1093-1109.

O almighty and merciful Father,

you pour out your benefits on us,

forgive our unthankfulness for your goodness.

We have stood before you with dead and senseless hearts,

unkindled by the love

of your gentle and enduring goodness.

O merciful Father, turn us and we will be turned.

Make us hunger and thirst for you with our whole heart,

and with all our longing desire you.

Make us serve you with our whole heart

and with all our zeal seek whatever is pleasing in your sight;

for the sake of your only Son,

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.