Saturday – Open Topic

Reading Matthew 22:15-22

Highlight Verse:

““Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I just got back inside from hanging a light shining on the American flag on the front of our house. I wanted to be able to fly the flag for the entire 4 day weekend and proper flag etiquette requires any flag flown at night to be lit.

Our flag is lit.

The July 4th holiday is lit (often literally).

This is one way that I “give to Caesar.”

I enjoy celebrating the day that our forefathers took a stand for freedom from tyranny and liberty and equality.

Of course, they had a long way to go but they were heading in the right direction.

I have friends and relatives from all over the patriotic spectrum. I have dear brothers and sisters who have lived in other countries for many years and who have little pride for their native land and think primarily globally.

I have other friends and relatives who think the rest of the world outside the United States is inferior and should be ignored.

I think our hard earned freedom is something to be celebrated.

The effort to earn and maintain that freedom is to be applauded.

While democracy itself is not necessarily a Biblical value, I believe that freedom, justice, unity, and equality are. Democracy gives us our most direct pathway to fulfilling those values as a nation.

We can certainly celebrate Independence Day while being conscious of the fact that God so loved the whole world.

How do you celebrate July 4th while recognizing God’s love for all?
What are ways that you can promote God’s values over this holiday weekend?

Hint – our church does so by having a day of service to our community with organized acts of service for several groups.