MT. VERNON —
Editor:
Recently I purchased a book, a 365-day devotional book, entitled, “In God We Still Trust” compiled by Dr. Richard G. Lee. The book’s content is very inspirational and thought provoking for me.
The format of each page is the following: There is a title for the day, a pertinent Bible verse, a quote by or a commentary about a famous American or memorable American happening, a patriot’s prayer and a patriot’s promise, each pertaining to the day’s topic.
Since I cited my source, may I cite the devotional for Jan. 12. Title: “The Loss of Virtue.” Bible verse: “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies.” Joshua 7:12. Person and quote: “Samuel Adams, ... wrote the following in a letter to James Warren, the president of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, in 1779. ‘A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. How necessary then is it for those who are determined to transmit the blessings of liberty as a fair inheritance to posterity, to associate on public principles in support of public virtue.’”
The prayer is, “Grant us strength, dear Father, that we may be able to provide the blessings of liberty to our children and to our children’s children. Help us all to understand what virtue means and to live virtuously every day. Let us also teach the principles of virtue as we live our lives.” Promise: “God said that He will never leave us or forsake us, but if we leave Him, what then?”
End of that day’s devotional.
The Old Testament Israelites who turned their backs on the God who wanted to bless them were subjected to the judgment of God at the hands of ungodly people. The Lord judges nations according to his word. In spite of how God has blessed us in the past, we are becoming such an unrighteous people that God must judge us by his righteousness. The truth of the Bible guarantees that.
You say, the United States is not Israel. No, but the church, God’s people, is in the United States. II Chronicles 7:14 is God’s formula for a nation to avoid judgment and to receive God’s blessing. Please read the Bible.
May I recommend this daily devotion book to you. May I also recommend two other books, “The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn, which shows undeniable parallels between Israel’s fate and our nation’s current events and potential future and “Implosion” by Joel C. Rosenberg which poses the question, “Can America recover from its economic and spiritual challenges in time?”
Larry Pearson
Mt. Vernon
Opinion
January 21, 2013
Bible verse gives warning
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