We may not hear “God Bless America” quite so often now that Election Day is behind us, but we should hear it as we pray it every day!
These three words have become such a common tagline at the end of political speeches that I worry the meaning and import of “God Bless America” may sometimes be unintentionally diminished.
Most people of faith, hopefully including speechwriters and political orators who make frequent use of the phrase, believe God’s blessing upon our great nation is essential for survival, let alone peace and prosperity.
Most of us in the church believe we are shown God’s favor when we receive God’s gifts and resources in the first place. We obtain God’s blessing as the second gift when we do what God intended with what God provided! This sounds way too simple, I know!
We don’t expect God to bless wrongful use of God’s gifts and this, by the way, renders the election of wise leaders who will make right use of America’s abundant resources all the more important…
One reason I believe our nation has been so blessed is because our aims have so consistently been honorable. We are an imperfect nation but one, nonetheless, bound by principles of freedom and justice. We are liberators, not captors; freedom fighters, not tyrants.
And by God’s grace, the blessing of a nation avails itself to its people. This means if you have seen God’s favor and, if you have the gift of faith to discern and undertake God’s purpose for your life, then you have every reason to hope for God’s blessing.
But know this; both nation and people require God’s favor and God’s blessing to achieve God’s purpose. It is God who is the author of every good and virtuous thing. The Psalmist says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.” (Psalm 127:1-2)
The bread of anxious toil makes me think of my son, who is a veteran of the Iraq war. He and his comrades in the infantry consumed the bread of anxious toil in and around Baghdad. They went days without sleep. They guarded a foreign city and, thousands of miles from home, they prayed, “God Bless America.”
God Bless America is a prayer. We know God has already shown America great favor. Our prayer is that we, the people, and the leaders we elect make wise use of God’s gifts and resources for God’s purposes.
Sunday is Veteran’s Day and there are no people in the world more acutely aware of God’s favor, God’s blessings and God’s call on America than our veterans and their families.
Veterans and current members of our nation’s armed and diplomatic services have answered the call with love of God and country. We thank God for their service and sacrifice.
This Sunday, we will thank them. We will pray God Bless America. We will sing God Bless America and we will prayerfully give full meaning to phrase!
Join us this weekend Saturday @ Six or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11:00. The Message is “God Bless America” based on Psalm 127.
Dennis Andrews Ed.D.
Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach) located five blocks south of Hillsboro on AIA. See more @ www.communitych.org or on Facebook.
