Did you know The Star Spangled Banner has more than one verse? It has four in fact. If you read over these verses you will gain even more insight into the fabric of our nation.

Verse 1:

O 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 through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Verse 4:

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

While I will in no way will make the argument that our nation is a Christian nation, for those of you like myself who want to see this generation come to know the hope and purpose found only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is helpful to refer back to markers of Christian heritage in our country. Within the national song is a clear confession of faith. Note the reference, unashamedly, to praising the “Power” (note the capitalization indicating a person) that makes and preserves nations. Wow. And what a motto; “In God is our trust”. If only more individuals would have such a motto in their own lives.

As we celebrate our freedom on this fourth of July, would you recognize that Jesus offers a freedom that will last for eternity. Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Nations will rise and fall, but freedom in Christ is TRUE freedom. John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Find your freedom in Him today.

Your fellow worker in the field, Adam