In September, 1774, the fathers of our nation met in Philadelphia at the First Continental Congress. It was a difficult and challenging time. Emotions (I am sure) ran high and this time the stakes were even higher. Would a new nation be born? Would this land called America be a free people? George Washington and John Adams (two future presidents) were present, along with faithful patriots who were devoted to the American cause. In there usual practice of inviting our Creator into deliberations Dr. Jacob Duche' (an Anglican minister) was asked to pray for the proceedings. Here is the prayer he prayed ...
"O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of
lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and
reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms,
Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these
our American States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor
and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be
henceforth dependent only on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the
righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that
countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give; take them,
therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom
in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our
cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause
and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring
justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of
war from their unnerved bands in the day of battle!
"Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this
honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest
foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order,
harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice,
religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst The people. Preserve
the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them
and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou
seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting
glory in the world to come. All this we ask In the name and through the
merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen"
John Adams observed that this prayer and the Scripture from Psalm 35 brought tears to the eyes of the delegates. This Psalm calls for God to deliver His faithful from the bonds of oppression and the tyranny of evil.
I (today and on Sunday) will be asking the people called Methodists in Santa Rosa Beach to devote at least five minutes to prayer for our nation and for God's power to provide freedom, provision and protection to our nation. Also, I will ask each of you to read the prayer contained in this blog as a remembrance of God's deliverance of our nation in 1776 and as a petition for God to again bring us to His calling nationally and individually. May we all remember that through His creation people are equal, free and endowed with rights, opportunities, dignity and potential from the God who is the author of freedom. As we study freedom during July (sermon series) may we look at the past, the present and the future God offers those who follow Him. In Jesus' Name, Pastor Randy
No comments:
Post a Comment