Hebrews 12:28 NIV
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Did you know that on the morning of July 4, 1776 after the vote was taken to declare independence from Great Britain, all 56 men who voted in Independence Hall became silent? Some men began to weep while others knelt to pray. Breaking the silence, John Hancock signed his name on the Declaration of Independence, stating, "His majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can also double the price on my head!" The room filled with laughter. Benjamin Franklin then moved to sign the Declaration and added, "Yes we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately!" After all the signatures were in place, John Hancock said, "Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the universe. ...Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of (God)." And Samuel Adams followed, stating, "We have this day restored the Sovereign God to Whom Alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven. ...from the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come." 17
This day was a holy day of deliverance for them. These men understood how God's hand moved on their behalf throughout the whole process to get them to freedom. And their response was one of awe and profound adoration, committing themselves and this great nation to the Lord. They were thankful and hopeful about the future of the country.
I can’t help but to think about how exciting this was for them, and how grateful I am for their perseverance in seeing this momentous effort through to the end. We serve the same God today, and we are “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken”. What areas of your life do you need to receive God’s power to break through? The Bible says that, “Now faith is…” The Founding Fathers didn’t know what was ahead of them when they fought for their freedom. Was it imprisonment, or death? Was it their freedom? Would it be their hope in God? All they knew was that they had to move forward and trust God to protect them, because what they were pursuing was worth the struggle. Just as Jesus endured the cross, these men endured, for the joy set before them. Their response to their uncertainty was to be thankful and worship God with reverence and awe. If we will humble ourselves and throw ourselves at the mercy of the Almighty God through trust, He will give us victory in every area of our lives; and He’ll do so in such a way that our only response will be one with a fullness of awe and praise.
That’s such great news for our country and for each of us as individuals. Shall we follow our Forefathers’ example and “humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the universe?”
Action steps
- Read - Re-read Hebrews 12:28.
- Think - Is there an area of your life that seems to be “shaken” or unsteady right now? Are you unsure about your future?
- Write - Make a list of the things that you are uncertain about. Then decide what it is you need. Is it peace? Look up a scripture about peace and write it next to your concern. Is it provision? Find a scripture and write it down.
- Pray - In your prayer time today, spend some time just thanking God for the promises you have just discovered. Thank Him for what He has done for this country and worship Him as “the great Lord of the universe” just as our Forefathers did.
- Take away - Take time during the day to thank God. Appreciate Him. Stand in awe of Him. Adore Him and watch Him make you unshaken.
“The rights essential to happiness…We claim them from a higher source-from the King of kings and Lord of all the earth.”