Devotional Reading: Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 54, Psalm 55; Psalm 56; Psalm 57; Psalm 58; Psalm 59

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Memory Verses: I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. Psalm 52:9 | Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 | In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:4

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The Lord Is My Helper

Especially if we are in need of anything, we must remind ourselves that the Lord is our helper. When someone does something for you, it is good to be thankful. But we are not to make people the object of our worship. God is our provider. Often He sends His blessing through other people. But do not forget to thank God for inspiring others to be His hands and feet on the earth.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

We also in giving do fulfill the commandment of God (Luke 6:38). We must be careful not to see ourselves as idols, or make others to be our natural servants because we give. Sometimes people think that because they provide something to someone, the receiver is their slave. What? Have we forgotten that God provided what we have to give?

An American Idol

The body of Christ should find it deplorable, but there is a spirit of idolatry in the church (and we speak of the body of believers and not any one building). It has grown because it is not a totem standing in the sanctuary. That would have been cast out and all who bowed scorned. The idolatry attacking the church today is the worship of people more than God. Today America celebrates her freedom birthday. And while “In God We Trust” is still found on legal tender (cash), the wave of trust in money is clearly hotter than the summer heat.

The Great Depression followed the “Roaring Twenties.” America was characterized as self-serving. The richer our nation is, the more we have to check our hearts. God is not opposed to prosperity. He is opposed to “In Self We Trust.”

The Lord is calling us to open our eyes. We know these things are among us. They are mostly allowed to thrive because someone is benefiting from them. Idols distract from the Savior. Can any man or woman save your soul? No. All souls belong to God (Ezekiel 18:4). And there is neither salvation in any other but Christ (Acts 4:12). Therefore there should be no place for idols (not the word only, which has become a popular nomenclature for talented people; we speak of the function of idols and acts of worshipers. That being said, indeed some talented people are today’s idols).

God has warned us against idol worship. Doing so is like comparing Him to the person or thing that is the idol, in a manner that says God is not greater than the idol. This is an abasement of God’s divine nature in our own eyes. We have heard that to fall into the hands of the living God is dreadful (Hebrews 10:31). However, some have not believed this saying since they have lived much time in peace. God is warning us again that He is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 5:9).

Our independence crumbles when we use it to gain freedom from serving God.

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A Great Nation

In life we are to embody the virtues of our Lord. If our Lord is not the Almighty God, we are something else walking His earth like a bold-faced treason.  The nation of Israel was made great because God loved them. America was made great because it loved God. If we allow that love to fade, He will fade His banner over us. Remember that the lives spared on that night of the passover, were only so under the blood of the lamb. How shall we be saved without a Savior? If we truly love this country, we will love God who holds it dear at the remembrance of those who love Him. It’s not complicated. We already have what it takes to do what we should.

God bless America. America bless God.