“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.”
2nd President of the United States
(March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1801)
This weekend Americans celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The founding fathers wrote in that declaration, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This sentence has been called “one of the best-known sentences in the English language” but without the operative phrase “endowed by their Creator” there is no true life, liberty and happiness.
Do our children know what real freedom is? Do they know what freedom costs? This world describes freedom as a life with no limits, no restraints. I do what I want to do, say what I want to say, live how I want to live. The Bible describes freedom: “If the Son sets you free you are free, then you will really be free.” (John 8:36) On this Independence Day, let’s give thanks for those who have fought to make this a free country, for our Creator who has made us free, and let’s remember to teach our children the real meaning of freedom.
Our prayer:
“Freeing God, we thank you for those who have sacrificed for freedom. They have followed the example of Jesus who freed us from the tyranny of sin. Help us to teach our children that the truth of freedom means to follow the ways and words of Jesus. We pray for this generation that they would know that life, liberty and happiness comes from the Creator who endows them with these gifts. We pray for adults to live these truths as an example for a deeply needy generation.”
My Children, come. Listen to me. I will teach you to have respect for the Lord. Psalm 34:11 (NIRV)
In His Freedom,
