God and Country
Day One A Nation and
God
"The great faith that led our nation's
founding fathers to pursue this bold experience in self-government has
sustained us in uncertain and perilous times; it has given us strength and
inspiration to this very day. Like them, we do very well to recall our 'firm
reliance on the protection of divine providence' to give thanks for the freedom
and prosperity this nation enjoys, and to pray for continued help and guidance
from our wise and loving Creator."
George Bush (President: 1989-1993)
What does Psalm 33 say
about a nation and its relationship with God?
How do you think God
desires that a nation relate to Him?
What are negative examples
we see of nations relating to God in a negative or harmful way?
Day Two The Impact
of God’s Word on a Nation
"We cannot read the history of our rise and
development as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has
occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic. Where we have been the truest
and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest
measure of contentment and prosperity."
Franklin Roosevelt (President:
1933-1945)
"The fundamental basis of this nation's laws
was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights
comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and
Harry Truman (President: 1945-1953)
"The spirit of man is more important than mere
physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth. The
Bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon its words. In no
other book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope."
Dwight Eisenhower (President:
1953-1961)
What does Psalm 119
(especially verses 105-106) say about God’s Word?
How does it apply to you
personally?
How does this personal
application then impact, or fail to impact, your nation?
Day Three God’s
Interaction with a Nation
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can
the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only
firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of
the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I
tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot
sleep forever."
Thomas Jefferson (President: 1801-1809)
Thomas Jefferson was raised
Episcopalian as a child but later was a part of no specific denomination. Historians say that he held Christian, Deist
(God created and then removed Himself from impact or involvement in His
creation), as well as Unitarian (open to all beliefs and thoughts
regarding God) beliefs. How do you think
he came to make such a strong statement regarding God and His relationship with
this nation (see above) while holding to such a varied set of beliefs?
In Daniel
2:20-22, Daniel interprets a troubling and confusing dream to the King. What does Daniel say as he receives the
interpretation from God?
How do you think
God “sets up Kings and deposes them”?
Take time today
to pray for our Government leaders as well as the leaders around the world.
Day Four Responsibility
"We in this country, in this generation are,
by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We
ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we
may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in
our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, goodwill toward
men. That must always be our goal. For as was written long ago, 'Except the
Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.'."
John Kennedy (President: 1961-1963)
What do you see as your
responsibilities as a citizen of this country?
What difference does it
make that you are a citizen of this country and a believer in Christ? Is it ever a conflict?
What does Philippians 3:20
say about your citizenship?
How does this impact our
physical citizenship here on earth?
Day Five Walk
Humbly
"Here before me is the Bible used in the
inauguration of our first President in 1789, and I have just taken the oath of
office on the Bible my mother gave me just a few years ago, opened to the
timeless admonition from the ancient prophet Micah: 'He hath showed thee, O
man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God"
Jimmy Carter (President: 1977-1981)
Read the passage, Micah
6:8, referred to in this quote. How does
God call on us to live?
How do you think living in
such a manner would impact a nation?
How would you rank the
church in general in regard to living up to Micah 6:8?
How would you rank
yourself?