July 4, 2004
A Strong Constitution
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-10
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people. —1 Peter 2:9
Bible In One Year: Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25
The Declaration of Independence of the United States speaks of all people being“created equal”and that we are endowed with certain“unalienable rights.”The Constitution guarantees that the government will protect those rights for all its citizens. These two documents clearly reveal that the nation’s freedom depends largely on a strong constitution.
The Bible is a more far-reaching“bill of rights”than either of these documents. It originated with God, who backs it with His justice, His concern for all people, and His sovereignty. And it is the only charter that guarantees freedom from sin’s penalty and power.
A man went to a clergyman to get some advice about religious virtue and the freedom it brings.“What must I do to attain holiness?”he asked. The pastor replied,“Follow your heart.”Then he added,“To follow your heart you are going to need a strong constitution."“Which constitution?”asked the man.“The Bible!”said the pastor.
Peter said that Christians, as“a holy nation,”are to“ proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light”(1 Peter 2:9). There we find true freedom. When we live by our“ constitution,”we will be able to enjoy our rights and fulfill our calling. —Dennis De Haan
But we must do our part;
When we live out its principles,
We’ll keep it in our heart. —Sper
The best constitution in the world is the Bible.
