The Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time by Colonel John Nixon in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
Following the reading, the Liberty Bell was rung to proclaim America’s independence from Great Britain.
It didn’t crack that day, as is sometimes believed, but many years later, in 1835, while being rung during the funeral of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall.
Quite large, this famous bell measures 12 feet around its bottom circumference, has a clapper more than 3 feet long, and weighs 2,080 pounds.
The Liberty Bell is a national legend, a symbol of freedom familiar to most of us.
Its ringing proclaimed political freedom for the American colonies.
Yesterday, we celebrated our freedom as a nation.
Despite everything that may be wrong in our nation, we are to thank God for our freedom and cherish it.
We, as believers, need to be praying for our nation and its leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says:
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
We may not always agree with our political leaders, but we are to be praying for them and even giving thanks for them, since the Lord is in sovereign control.
We also see in these verses that our lives are to be marked by godliness.
One of the best things we can do for our country is to be growing believers who live consistent Spirit-filled lives.
We then we can be used of God to share the gospel with the lost in our country.
A brilliantly effective but elderly teacher had charge of a class of 4th graders.
The children were studying the states, and she asked them how many states they could name.
They came up with very few.
The teacher told them that in her day students knew the names of all the states.
One boy replied, “Yes, but in those days there were only 13 states.
The Declaration of Independence was signed July 4, 1776 and the signers regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule.
With the Declaration, these new states took a collective first step toward forming the United States of America.
Let’s praise God for our freedom!
Blessings!
Robyn Henning