The back page - July 3
God Shed His Grace on Thee
God Shed His Grace on Thee
(Numbers 6:22-27) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: {23} Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, {24} The LORD bless you and keep you; {25} the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; {26} the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. {27} So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them. ...And so should we pray the Lord’s blessing on our own nation. Recognizing that no one can curse what He has blessed nor take away what He keeps1. Our life and blessing as a nation like that of individuals does not consist in our abundance of things2, but in the light of His presence. It is His Grace that has provided and preserved us a nation, not because of our ambition, our human wisdom, our Moral superiority or our strength, but because In God We Trust. It is He who sets the boundaries of nations3 in time and space. It is He who bestows prosperity. It is He who protects. He builds with the builder4. He watches with the watcher. He delivers the warrior in strange lands and his loved ones at home from those who plot their harm5. Or not. But, though we cannot understand all of His actions6, we dare not forget that it is in Him that we live and move and have our being, and in Him all things hold together7. He has only to let go of us and we will surely fall. He will not let go of us. Will we let go of Him? We live in interesting times: times of uncertainty, of challenge, of change, of decision, and of testing. It’s time for courage, for faith, for steadfastness, and for holiness. He has promised that whatever can be shaken will be shaken8 that what cannot be shaken will remain. There is a whole lot of shaking going on. Institutions crumble, economies fail, the plans of the wise in this world come to nothing. But, we have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, and we live in the Kingdom Economy. He keeps in perfect peace the one whose mind is fixed on Him9. Even so, we should remember that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; especially for all that are inauthority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity10.
God Bless You - God Bless America
*1: Numbers 22:12, *2 Luke 12:15, *3 Acts 17:26
*4 Psalm 127:1,2, *5 Psalm 91, *6 Romans 11:33
*7 Romans 11:33,*8 Hebrews 12:27,28
*4 Psalm 127:1,2, *5 Psalm 91, *6 Romans 11:33
*7 Romans 11:33,*8 Hebrews 12:27,28