From the time of Abraham, it is all about the land. Genesis 15:18…. The Lord made a covenant…..To your descendants, I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, he Kadmonites, he Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashires, and the Jebusites.
We too have been given a land, whereby we have a Constitution, a Bill of Rights and something that we seem to have forgot or wish to forget or simply believe that it does not need to be remembered – a spiritual heritage of freedom for all peoples of the world.
This land was founded upon the belief in almighty G__ and with it, sets of rules to live by if we are to have harmony with our brothers and sisters.
G__ Who?
This seems to be the question asked from children, adults, teachers, blue collar workers, white collar workers, our court system, our Congress of the United States and the list goes on until we just shrug our shoulders and say “What is the use, it will just get voted down again.”
We have been given a great land – a land to work for the betterment of all. We have lost the simplicity of our life – a life of caring for our neighbor, his possessions, his hopes and dreams and first and foremost, we have forgot to be a servant to him and his family. We have lost our innocence of profound beliefs in a system that works and a system that is for all people.
Psalm 25:11-14….For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose. They will abide in prosperity and their children shall possess the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
Again, the land.
As we wave our flags, wear our red, white and blue clothing, have our BBQ’s and just enjoy our families, let us not celebrate for the sake of being just another holiday. Let us all remember the priviledge we have of living in this country, faults and all. Let us all tailgate with each other, hands clutched together in unision and praise for what we have been given.
Being a servant is a joy that you must experience. Did you help clean up your debris in some public place in celebration of the Fourth? Did you wish a stranger the best of the Holiday? Did you inquire with your work associates about what they were doing and if they were alone, did you invite them to become a part of your family?
Did you remember the words of Isaiah 42:10-….Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its town lift up their voice….. let them shout from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord and declare his praise in the coastlands….
The land, the land and the land.
With gladness in your heart, tell those people around you that you love them, that you share your gifts with them, that you will help them whenever necessary, that you will listen to them, that you will be there for them, and that you will be a servant for them.
Taking care of the earth, our earth, our country – this is what we are to celebrate. I am so glad that I have 300 million brothers and sisters and I know in my heart that when the Star Spangled Banner is played, there will be a stillness in your soul that tells you, yes, it is a great country and yes, I will help, and yes, I will listen, and yes, I will take care of this land. I will work side by side with all of my brothers and sisters to keep this land safe. I will work to make it better for all, not just the few. I will not despise the rich nor the poor. I will be a servant to all. I salute you America and thank G__ that our founding fathers had the good sense to realize that it is only when all work together, true servanthood becomes a reality.
Let me leave you with this….Proverbs 22:1-2. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.
Blessings.