“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”
Romans 6:10-12 (NIV)

“The Star Spangled Banner”
By: Francis Scott Key
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Did you know that this famous song has four verses? We don’t sing the other three, but they are there.

For me the greatest message of this song is the last three lines. Our flag is still waving over the land of freedom and the home of brave men and women. It still represents liberty! It has not been destroyed or discarded. It continues to signal to the world that democracy is still going in this country. It is still there!

Even more powerful is the fact that Calvary is still effective. Try as the enemy may, the Cross continues to call to those who desire freedom. The sacrifice, which God made on Calvary, still delivers men and women from sin and sets captives free. It still produces eternal salvation! It is still there!

Dear Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for the freedoms you have provided. Thank you for this land of the free. Empower us with faith and hope. Enable us to be loyal citizens of this nation and of the Kingdom of God. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN

Let us praise God for liberty and live as free people,