Happy Fourth of July, former procrastinators! The date has passed but the benefits we have of living in a country so blessed with freedoms continue to bring us good. The Lord has blessed us by granting that we live here. He has also given us responsibility to maintain the freedoms purchased by the hard work, financial investment, family separations, and blood of our founders and those who’ve fought on many fronts for our sakes.
The way to be salt and light is to stand for God’s truth. (Matthew 5:6.) God told His people to pray and work for the prosperity – the good – of the land they occupied. Those are assignments we have as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ living here. It’s our privilege to enjoy freedoms – and our responsibility to exercise what it takes to maintain them.
We have freedom TO speak up, TO engage in the governing process. Often we act like we’ve been granted freedom FROM those things. Freedom from those things is not freedom – it becomes bondage under those who took them from us. While we are paying attention to work and family, tired from our labors, others – also tired from their labors – are actively involved in work that is detrimental to us, our children, grandchildren, country.
We must be aware that here in our lives today, what is good is called evil and what is evil is called good. (Isaiah 5:20) We must be alert to recognize danger and active to protect against it, to stand for what is truly true, right, and good. If we genuinely love people, we will not agree to things that are harmful to them and to our society. Sometimes we say, “Yes, but there’s a fine line…” as if that excuses us from taking action or as if we can’t tell what’s right and wrong. Usually we know. We need the courage to act. We can pray for discernment and courage – and step forward.
This is an area where it’s very easy to procrastinate. “I’ll read about that later.” “I can’t watch that report.” “Other people will call the legislators.” “I’d have to hire a baby sitter if I went to that meeting.” “I’m buying a car, I can’t give money to that cause.” “I don’t have time to serve on the board.” “That campaign slot conflicts with my game.” There is ALWAYS a reasonable excuse for not taking action. Those reasons will look very poor indeed when freedoms are gone.
Perhaps the sacrifices we’re called on to make are those related to our excuses. Read now. Watch the report. Call the legislators. Donate to the cause. Hire the sitter and go to the meeting. Run for the board position. Campaign for the clear-thinking candidate. We must invest now. There will be a harvest.
What will you do this week in support of truth and freedom?
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