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 Pastor Bob's Two Minute Devotion
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord
The United States of America has been a leader on the world scene for over 200 years and is a unique example of a working democracy. The Constitution and Bill of Rights grant an assurance of liberty to the average citizen and provides an umbrella of protection from other governments and powers and even from the power of our own government.
We have come to enjoy these liberties and even take them for granted, and often consider them our 'rights'. With rights come responsibilities - or our freedoms shall not long endure. Let us remember where these liberties originated and who is in control.
What is God's view of nations and principalities?
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." Psalms 33:12-22 NIV
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." - Patrick Henry
The US Bill of Rights
Since the Constitution of the United States was adopted in September of 1787 and ratified in 1789, only twenty-seven amendments have been added. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted as a unit in 1791.
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are summarized below. Full descriptions follow with a link for each amendment.
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1
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Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
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2
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Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia.
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3
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No quartering of soldiers.
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4
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Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
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5
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Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.
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6
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Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
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7
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Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
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8
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Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
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9
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Other rights of the people.
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10
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Powers reserved to the states.
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Bill of Rights.
http://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~jdalbey/Public/Bill_of_Rights.html
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/amendments.htm
Bill of Rights
Later Amendments
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