At the end of this week we will be celebrating the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day in the United States. This is not just any Fourth of July though. It’s not just any year marking the birth of this nation. It is the 250th anniversary of that day when representatives from the 13 colonies forming the Continental Congress in Philadelphia voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence creating the United States of America. Our 250 year history has been one filled with courage, bravery, success and independence along with atrocities, cruelty, suffering, conflicts and disasters. All of these have grown and shaped our country over the last 250 years. I am admittedly biased, but think we are a great nation. No, we are not, nor have we ever been, perfect. Yes, we have made and will most likely continue to make many mistakes. While we should not deny or hide those, we also shouldn’t lose sight of the many great things that have been a part of our nation’s history either.

We have been blessed as a nation. To overlook, ignore, or deny those blessings is to have an ungrateful heart. I would hope in this week leading up to this great anniversary of the birth of our nation that we would take time to recognize the blessings that God has so graciously given our nation and us as individuals as well. In Job 12:23 we are reminded of this fact about God: “He makes the nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.” We exist, prosper, thrive, or cease to exist because of Him. This anniversary shows 250 years of God’s grace in establishing and sustaining our country. That alone is something to be grateful for.

I know that there are many differing opinions about the state of our nation right now. In fact, some of you might be even be reading this asking how can you say our nation is so great or that we are blessed don’t you see what a mess things are? You may think our President and the leaders have destroyed our nation, or that our President and leaders are being persecuted and people are trying to destroy them and our nation. If that is where you find your thoughts right now, I understand that, but I point you back to the verse in Job 12:23. Although leaders and other people can significantly affect our lives and nation, ultimately none of them can destroy it or make it great. That privilege and responsibility belongs to God and God alone.

It is easy and seems to have become a favorite pastime of Americans to criticize. We criticize our leaders. We criticize each other. We even have become weirdly critical of ourselves adding to the skyrocketing anxiety in our nation. As believers, I can’t recall a single command or calling for us to criticize others in the way we at times do. Instead I see these reminders and encouragements (along with many more):

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

So, instead of criticizing and complaining I see reminders to seek peace and prosperity for our city, and nation. I understand that we all probably have different ideas of what that looks like and how it should be accomplished and we can have and civilly share our opinions remembering that if we want others to listen to us then we should be willing to listen to them. We won’t all agree on the what and how of everything, but we don’t stop there.

We’ve also been called to pray for peace and prosperity. While we’re doing that, we are called to be subject to, or under the authority of, the governing authorities. If you are tempted to say that an authority figure you don’t like or agree with is not your leader, I’d caution you to think carefully and look back at Romans 13:1 where we are told that “The authorities that exist have been established by God.” The good ones, the bad ones, the ones we agree with and the ones we don’t have all been established by God for His purpose. We might not understand what that purpose is, but if we say we trust and follow God then we need to submit to His will and recognize His sovereignty. He is sovereign even over schemes of men and flaws of machines.

Finally, not only are we called to pray for the peace and prosperity of our cities and country, but we are reminded to make petitions (requests), prayers, intercessions (praying for their benefit), and thanksgiving for ALL people. I love the way the verse in 1 Timothy is written because just in case we’re not sure that they are included in ALL people, God specifies that these petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving should be made for kings and ALL those in authority. It even goes on to let us know that it pleases God.

With those important reminders, I would encourage you this week (and hopefully beyond) to take time to be grateful for our nation and specifically the Wonder of God’s Blessing on our Nation, but also take time to pray for it’s peace and prosperity. Seek that peace and make sure you are submitting to the authorities God has put in place and pray for them. Because as Billy Graham once beautifully stated, “The secret strength of a nation is found in the faith that abides in the hearts and homes of the country.”

This is part of our Thursday series on the encounters that Risen Savior shared in the four gospels. Today’s encounter is shared with us by Mark, Luke and John.

It was Sunday evening. The women had discovered the empty tomb that morning. They had seen Jesus and told the disciples, but the disciples didn’t believe them. That afternoon Jesus had traveled with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they ran back and reported to the disciples when they had finally realized that they’d been talking to the Risen Savior.

But now, it was Sunday evening. John describes what was going on like this:

John 20:19

They’ve been told twice that Jesus has risen, but the disciples are still doubting, scared, and confused. They’ve shut themselves into a room, hiding out if you will, because they are scared the Jews will come after them next. And in the middle of this Jesus suddenly appears with the words “Peace be with you.”

Luke describes their reaction in chapter 24, verses 37-41:

Although the disciples had been told two different times that Jesus was alive, and even when He stood in their midst, they doubted. They literally couldn’t believe their eyes. Even when He showed them His hands and His feet, Luke says that they “still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement.”

It’s easy to say that they had Jesus right in front of them and could see His hands and feet, so how in the world could they doubt. Let’s remember what the last week had been like for these disciples though. They walked alongside Jesus as He entered Jerusalem one week before to the praises of the crowd heralding Him as their Messiah, the one they believed God had sent to rescue them from Rome. Throughout the week they saw many things and heard many teachings which they did not fully understand. Then on Thursday night, one of their own had betrayed Jesus and turned Him over to religious leaders. He had been arrested, brought before numerous leaders, beaten, mocked, and eventually crucified. He had been dead and buried. They had been grieving for three days. Probably grieving the loss of the friend and teacher, and grieving because they thought He was the Messiah and didn’t know how all this could happen. And they were afraid that the same thing might happen to them. But now, in the midst of their fear and grief, this Messiah who they had been grieving over was standing in their midst saying, “Peace be with you.” If we’re honest, we’d be pretty confused and struggling to believe too.

I find it especially interesting when Luke says that they “still could not believe it BECAUSE of their joy and amazement.” Have you have been there? You are so amazed and overjoyed about something you’re almost afraid it can’t be true. Some people might even respond to a situation like that by saying “pinch me” because they’re afraid they must be dreaming. The disciples were seeing, hearing, and touching Jesus. Their senses were telling them that the Messiah was alive, but their brains just couldn’t fully comprehend or believe it yet. They’d never seen anything like this. It was incomprehensible, but it was obviously true.

While we might not have Jesus physically standing in our midst eating a broiled fish, much like the disciples there are times in our lives when we see God doing something that just doesn’t make sense to us. We see His work and we hear Him, but our brains just can’t comprehend or fully believe what is happening is real. Those are moments in life when faith is challenging. Our brains may eventually catch up like it seems happened with the disciples, but sometimes there are things about God and His work that we may never fully comprehend. In those moments, I think He would say to us just as He did to the disciples in that room, “Peace be with you.”

That is my prayer for you and I today that even in moments of confusion, fear, joy, amazement or doubt our hearts will no longer be troubled because we will hear the soft, still voice of God whispering in our ears “Peace be with you.”