A Great Cost
Let us approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrew 4:16
… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Insight
The Fourth of July is significant to me because I became a naturalized American citizen in 1976. You may recognize that 1976 was also America's Bicentennial - the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Another reason is that most of my childhood was spent growing up in a military family. My dad was a 20-year Navy veteran who loved God, his family, and his country.
I'm proud to be an American. I'm not proud of the many travesties Americans have been responsible for over the centuries. I mourn the injustices and grieve the losses while reaping the benefits of citizenship in a nation considered a land of opportunity. It isn't easy to articulate and seems impossible to process or make sense of. But we must. And we must be purposefully determined to leverage our influence to increase God's Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
Though the need is tremendous, we may be tempted to rush into prayer, beseeching God for help before we worship Him in acknowledgment of all He has done. So, what does that look like? I think the prophet Daniel gives us a starting point. We must pray "we and us," not "they and them." Daniel 9 records for us Daniel's preparation in humility and worship of our Sovereign and Holy God, then he cries out in verse 5, "We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments or ordinances." He goes on to say, "Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame" (v.7), and that "the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness for we have rebelled against You" (v.9). Later in verse 18, Daniel utters this prayer: "O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before you on account of any merits of our own, but on account of your great compassion."
Daniel cried out based on his identity as an Israelite - a child of the Most High. He prayed on behalf of his nation Israel, including himself as part of the guilty. He sought the Lord and was humbled, compelling Him to worship. He sought the Lord while living amidst a time of great national distress.
I am grateful for the privilege of being an American citizen. It came at a high cost. Men and women across this great nation have given their lives to protect the land of the free and the home of the brave. My dad was 21 years old when he enlisted. He served this country for 20 years in the US Navy and lived out his life dedicated to living a life worthy of the rights and privileges he and many others fought to protect. It wasn't until the last few weeks of his life that he spoke of some of the horrors he encountered as a Navy veteran. He carried those images, smells, and sounds locked away all those years. I miss my dad so much.
I am grateful for the gift of being a Christian. It came at a high cost. God gave His Son that we might know Him and be saved - that we might know His grace upon grace - to receive His forgiveness, be rescued from the domain of darkness, and be transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. I was seven when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I have loved Jesus my whole life but haven't always lived a life worthy of His calling. I'm learning every day to seek the Lord and be humble. To seek the Lord and worship. To seek the Lord while relying upon His sufficiency amid great national distress.
Let's be a people that prepare our hearts in gratitude and worship, a people that gives God the glory for all that He has done. Then let's confidently approach His throne of grace and make our requests known. Let's remember and honor the men and women and their families who serve in our military. Let's humble ourselves and pray.
Reflection
Ponder the great cost for your freedom.
What part(s) of Daniel's example do you need to practice more:
◦ Daniel sought to know the Lord
◦ Daniel sought to honor the Lord
◦ Daniel sought to worship the Lord
◦ Daniel sought to intercede on behalf of his people
◦ Daniel sought to trust the Lord
Prayer
Our Father, holy and sovereign, breathe on us Your power to humbly seek You and obey. Be a shield about our military. Lead our leaders in Your ways, O God. Our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we put on the full armor of God. Help us, O Lord, to stand and to move as You direct. In Jesus name, Amen.
Polly Clawson, Equipping Coordinator at our Wilmington Campus, wrote today's devotional.