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O Lord of Nations
O Lord of nations, hear our prayer.
We thank you for this land most fair,
Created by your might.
For mountain sunset, lake at dawn,
For woodland bloom and robin song,
For stars that lace the night, (CWS 785:1)
We cannot help but to thank God for what we have in this country. The sights and beauty of our land is beyond compare. Not to mention what it affords to us: everything that we need. Food, medical care, extravagant wealth (when compared to the rest of the world), work and leisure.
Most grateful, gracious God, are we
That in this country we are free
To worship you above.
We gather here to speak your name,
Then leave this place to spread your fame
That all may know your love. (CWS 785:3)
Yet what we may be the most grateful for is the ability we have in our nation to worship Him freely. It is sometimes forgotten, this inalienable right that was written into the Constitution. Yet, we must remember, with praise, that God allowed things to work out in this way, providing safety for his Word to be spoken, shared and spread.
Forgive us, Lord, when we forget
Your gifts to share, your Word to spread
To those who ache and bleed.
Renew our will to help the weak,
To feed the hungry, and to speak
Your Word to souls in need. (CWS 785:4)
There is so much that we are allowed to do in this land that would be forbidden elsewhere. There are so many opportunities to do good for others. Not only in their physical needs, but their spiritual as well. But too often we are distracted by other things, other concerns, other issues that aren’t as crucial. Forgive us Lord! Help us to make better use of our gift of freedom.
And when at last all nations fall
And you return as Lord of all
To make the earth anew,
Then may we join that shining band
Of saints from ev’ry tribe and land
And make our home with you. (CWS 785:7)
In the end, all nations, even ours, will fall. When our Savior reappears to make the earth anew, all boundaries will fall. A new nation will emerge. One that doesn’t involve race or country, only faith in Christ alone. By Jesus’ righteousness we will all shine, and we will all be home, in the eternal kingdom of God. What a day of thanksgiving that will be!
Pastor Joel Vogel
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