​My Country, ‘Tis of Thee…
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  (Psa 33:12) And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.  (Exo 12:14)

Today is Memorial Day in America. We pause to remember those who gave their lives in defending our nation since we wrote the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. Since that day, we have found it necessary to maintain a strong military power to defend our nation. It began costing us blood right away. We have also aided many other nations in their quest for freedom, partly for their sake and partly for our own self-interest. It has been to our advantage to leave troops in other nations after a war. That is expensive.

A story has circulated that sometime after World War II, President Charles DeGaule notified the U.S. that he wanted all the U.S. military to leave France as soon as possible. Our Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, asked him: “Does that include all the U. S. soldiers who are buried in your cemeteries?” That was the end of the story.

Not long after NAZI Germany had surrendered and our soldiers began coming home by the thousands, someone posted in the newspaper: “If you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read in English, thank a soldier.” The reason for this statement is that for some time we did not know who was going to win World War II. There was a possibility that NAZI German flags could be flying over our nation’s Capital and our post offices. As a youngster, I remember the talk of the older heads who weren’t sure how the war was going to end. There was also great fear that Japan would land thousands of Japanese soldiers on the beaches of California. Yamamato convinced Japanese war lords that American citizens were too well-armed for Japan to think about invading California.

America is the greatest nation in economic, technological, and military power in the history of the world. We were founded as a Christian nation, according to the U.S. Supreme Court, (Holy Trinity vs U.S.,1892). The Court took several years to examine many official documents. Our founding fathers understood that they were founding the “Great Experiment” in liberty to see if a nation could govern itself without an all-powerful monarch. John Adams, one of the leading founding fathers, said: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. So far, our form of government has out-lasted all others that tried to govern themselves.

But, it began costing blood right-away. George Washington, our first President was a praying man and a Bible-reading man. I’ve twice visited his home and his study where he laid an open Bible in a chair and covered it with his big hands morning and evening. Of all the American presidents, more books have been written and continue to be written about George Washington than any other president.

William Tecumseh Sherman is credited with the “War is hell” statement. He is the general who marched through the south and burned Atlanta. The statement has been quoted by many other military writers who know of nothing worse to say about war.
 
America seems to have lost its knowledge of our text today: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  (Psa 33:12)

From my earliest days in school, we were taught “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” It was easier to sing than our national anthem, but we sang that too. Then, there was America the Beautiful. During WW2 Kate Smith was a national radio voice who began singing God Bless America and it went (as they say today) viral! We didn’t know the verses but the chorus was easy to sing. It’s still a favorite.

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 29, 2017 – MONDAY         
A.M.  1Chron 26-27   P.M. John 11:18-46
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Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (Luke 24:44)
​
Two Songs for Today:
My Country ‘Tis of Thee (2:44) (Gaither Group)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTnOWvx-4q4

This Land is Your Land (4:28) (Gaither Group)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzpH3ZrLSEM
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Running the Race – Part 3
 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:   But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  (1Co 9:25-27)
 
It is hard for us in America to understand “Running the Race” because we live in a prosperous and soft time. The Christians in Corinth were living under the Roman Empire. Jesus came to earth “in the fulness of time” to redeem them that were under the law and that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal.4:4).
 
He was crucified on a Roman cross by Roman soldiers. His followers were persecuted by the leaders of the Jewish Temple and soon the power of the Roman Empire came down on Christians. They were imprisoned, stoned, beheaded, fed to the lions in the arena in Rome, impaled on crosses and used as human torches to light the garden of one of the Emperors. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tries to capture some of the price that has been paid by some Christians who “ran the race.”
 
When Saul (Paul) began arresting Christians and Stephen was stoned by the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, Christians began leaving Jerusalem and scattered to safer territory.  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.  (Act 8:3-4)

There was a dedicated mindset in the early Christians that is almost impossible to duplicate in modern America. However, we see it today as Christians in the Islamic countries kneel in orange suits to have their heads cut off. In N. Korea, China and several Islamic nations, many Christians are being persecuted and put to death. They endure and die the death of martyrs, even as they did in the earliest days of Christianity. Hundreds of Christians are suffering in stinking prisons. Many of them could be released if they would renounce their faith in Christ. Only rarely does this happen in America.

Jesus knew what was going to happen and told those who listened to Him preach: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  (Luk 9:23-24)

The Bible standard of faithfulness to Christ in running the race, is: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  (Rev 2:10)

I am reluctant to brag about what I would do if faced with some of the things Christians are facing today. Peter thought he was on solid ground and all the disciples joined him in declaring how brave and determined they were. We’re still talking about running the race. We may not be facing certain death for our faith in Christ, but what about the pressure to talk like the crowd at work or school?

When I was nine years old, I practiced profanity, and cursing so I would be accepted by the boys I wanted to be a part of. Of course, I was very much a lost sinner and had a wicked heart to do it. But, the night I called on the Lord to save me, all of that changed. My loyalty was to Christ. Pleasing Him meant more than pleasing wicked companions.

We are indeed running a race, a serious race and the rewards are high. We may not be called upon to lose our lives. But, we may be called upon to cut corners, to do things under the table, to please the ungodly. What then?  If you are a genuine Christian, your first loyalty is to Christ and all the areas of your life that involves. Can you trust Him and follow Him when you know you or some member of your family may not get well? Pray to be healed. But if God has something better for you than being healed, can you run the race with what you have and praise the Lord for it?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 26, 2017 – FRIDAY         
A.M.  1Chron 17-19   P.M. John 10:1-21
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Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (Luke 24:44)

Song for Today:   T
There Is A Fountain (4:39) (Gaither Group)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasK3ZFAOPE       
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Running the Race – Part 2
 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:   But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  (1Co 9:24-27)
 
Running the Race of the Christian life is the main thing we Christians do until we get to Heaven. In Paul’s day, the Olympics were going full-blast in that part of the world. He uses running to picture the Christian life. We must contend with the world, the flesh, and the devil; all three…not just one. He also talks about “The Warfare of the Believer” in Ephesians.

The World. We have trouble with the people of the world that defy God their maker, and His claim to be their rightful ruler. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (1Jn 2:15-16)

The Flesh.  Paul appears to have more trouble with his own body than the world and the devil.  His body must be kept under control. He does not have control of the world or the devil but he is in charge of controlling his own body that houses the old nature.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (Rom 7:21-24)

The Devil. We have trouble with a real devil and his horde of demons. They are spirit beings, fallen angels. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (Jas 4:7)

We are running against these three things but the lust of flesh is the closest and most troubling. The lust of the flesh is most often related to illicit sex. But other things issuing out of the flesh are: killing, stealing, lying, and coveting another person’s things. Beyond the battle we fight with adultery, killing, and lying, is the warfare that takes place in the mind. With Eve, the forbidden fruit promised to “make one wise, was good for food and pleasant to the eyes” All these are avenues of temptation to the flesh, our old nature.
 
Yesterday we looked at the issue of sickness and whether healing is in the Atonement. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (Isa 53:5) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  (1Pe 2:24)

I pointed out that these verses are clearly about God’s remedy for the healing of sin. There are other verses about physical healing, the main verse being: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  (1Jn 5:14-15)

If it is God’s will to heal us and if we ask Him, He will heal us. If it is not God’s will that we be healed, then we will not be healed. THE LAST SICKNESS IS NEVER HEALED. It is not always God’s will to heal everyone any more than it is God’s will to answer every prayer that is prayed.
 
Why bring this up while focusing on Running the Race as a Christian? Because sickness and death are big obstacles on the racetrack where we are Running the Race. It is hard to feel spiritual, hard to feel victorious while we are sick or when someone close has died. We are going to be overwhelmed!

Sickness and death are the authors of depression and negative mood. I have watched at the bedside in hospitals and watched at funerals. I have studied myself when sick and when suffering the loss of family members and close friends. We have to run the race through those experiences. In Paul’s day, they wrestled with sickness, prison, persecution, and death. When they ran their race, it ran through those experiences. Bad times were part of the race.

In summary, how do we run the race when God does not answer our prayers for healing? How do we run the race when a child in the family has leukemia and is not healed? With small children, be careful when you pray for the sick puppy to be healed and you have to bury the puppy. A broken-hearted child needs wise counsel from someone who understands that God does not answer every prayer.

Running the race as pictured by Paul, must include these times of severe testing. It matters a lot about whether healing is in the Atonement. I have seen much damage done to people who were taught that God will always answer prayer, will always heal sickness. If this expectancy is there and it doesn’t happen, some people are going to be hurt really bad. Some will experience shipwreck of their faith. I have met many angry people who are mad at God for taking their child.

Let’s not try to put God in a corner. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. The God of the mountain is still God in the valley. Farther along, we'll know all about it. Farther along we'll understand why. Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine. We'll understand it all, by and by.  He is the sovereign God who said: (and He meant what He said)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isa 55:8-9) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 25, 2017 – THURSDAY         
A.M.  1Chron 14-16   P.M. John 9:24-41
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (Luke 24:44)

Song for Today:   
The Old Rugged Cross (:48) (CMC – Sou.Pines,NC)
 https://www.facebook.com/laura.b.ingram.1/videos/10154713278024825/
 
Please pray for: This little singer, June Ingram, who is in the hospital with cellulitis in the leg – with IV

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 Master Verse on Prayer
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  (1Jn 5:14-15)

With hundreds of prayer and prayer-related verses in the Bible, how can we say that one verse is the master verse on prayer? The above verses wrap up all the Bible teachings on prayer and reduce them to a few words: “…ask anything according to His will.”
 
The verse assumes that everything necessary for successful prayer is in place. The verse in no way conflicts with any other verse on prayer but rather, brings all other verses to a point of action. The request is tested in the presence of the will of God. If we want to know other things about prayer, then we go beyond the master verse on prayer.
 
In the same way that Jesus reduced all the Jewish law and the preaching of the prophets into two verses, even so, the Apostle John reduces all the teachings on prayer to two verses.  Jesus and the Law.             
 
When asked about the “great commandment,” Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  (Mat 22:37-40)

If you’re looking for a summary of the Jewish law given by Moses and everything the prophets preached, there it is. If you’re looking for the details of the Mosaic law and the prophets, then read the books by Moses and the several prophets.

We are helped if we remember this: The New Testament is a commentary on the Old Testament. For example, the book of Revelation is a commentary on the book of Daniel. “The New is in the Old contained; the Old is in the new Explained.”
 
The core of 1John 5:14-15 is: “ask anything according to his will.”  It is a summary verse, a master verse that governs all the other verses on prayer and prayer-related verses.
 
Prayer and Believing.                                                                                                                 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  (Mar 11:22-23)

It looks like the whole thing about prayer is faith. We don’t see in these verses how to get enough faith. The disciples prayed: “increase our faith.” One man did this: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.  (Mar 9:24)

Prayer and Persistence.                                                                                                                 In another place, the important thing turns out to be persistence in prayer, not giving up. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  (Luk 11:7-10) ​Ask, and keep on asking. Seek, and keep on seeking. Knock, and keep on knocking.

Prayer and Sin.  
 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:  (Psa 66:18)                                    (If I treasure, protect iniquity.)

How to Pray.
​Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, even as John taught his disciples how to pray. His response was “the model prayer” most commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer.” It is not the prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. But it IS the prayer our Lord taught us to pray, and in that sense, is “The Lord’s Prayer.” I prefer the version in Matthew rather than in Luke. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (Mat 6:9-10) (Read: Matthew 6:9-15)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 19, 2017 – FRIDAY         
A.M.  2Kings 23-25   P.M. John 7:1-31
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Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (Luke 24:44)

Song for Today:  
Life’s Railway to Heaven (4:08) (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aic0WaD2gqQ&list=RDAic0WaD2gqQ&index=1  

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