Spiritual Lessons to Be Found in The Fourth of July

Written by Deb del Villar, Director of Communications

Deuteronomy 6:12 – “Beware lest thou forget the Lord.”

One of the ways God instructed the Israel nation to pass on their faith was through celebrations or remembrances – think Passover and the many feast days.

The KJV Bible contains over 300 references with the words remember and memorial along with their other word forms.

God calls us to be people who remember. As believers, He has surrounded us with memorials such as baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Remembering God’s gracious history with our nation as well as with our individual families fuels us. It keeps our faith growing stronger as we move into the unknown future.

July 4^th is the day in the United States that we remember the passage of The Declaration of Independence, declaring America to be independent or free from the control of Great Britain. It celebrates the beginning of a new nation.

Here are some ideas of the spiritual lessons you can share that relate well to the Fourth of July!

1. There is a battle.

Much was at stake in the beginning days of our nation, and the same is true in today’s spiritual battle that rages all around us and our families.

Meetings and conversations in private and public went on for a long time before The Declaration of Independence was ratified. Words were critical in this battle with Great Britain. Communicate to your family, through example, that words matter and they should be used carefully and correctly.

God’s Word is our sword, our spiritual weapon. Are you praying Scripture as a guard and protection for your family? Encourage your children and grandchildren to read The Bible, ask for prayer requests, and let them know when you pray for them.

2. There is bondage and freedom.

In the late 1700s, the American people desired to be separated from the control of Great Britain.

May we help our children and grandchildren desire to be separated from the control of sin in their lives. May they desire to be separate from the worldly culture that surrounds them. May they be Daniels and Josephs – in the world but not of the world. 

It has been said, that what we model the children will follow. Be that example of a life that steers clear of sin and is a life well-lived, full of joy and peace.

Share your testimony of when you were bound in sin and the tremendous relief that came when you trusted Christ. Talk about the wonderful freedom that came through Christ and the great treasure it has been to you.

While the freedom of July 4^th is about independence – our freedom in Christ comes through dependence on Him. John 8:36 says So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

There are so many things that we are free from once we are in Christ. We are free from guilt, shame, God’s wrath, fear of death, the curse of the law, legalism, and Satan’s control.

We are also free to approach God with our prayers and concerns, partake and enjoy spiritual blessings as one of His kids, be a joint heir with Christ, walk with God through life, live out His purpose, and be with Him eternally in Heaven.

Share a story today with your grandkids about a time you had to stand in the liberty that Christ has set you free and not be entangled again in the yoke of sin. Christ is powerful and real- may our grandchildren know this!

Share how the Holy Spirit helped you through a difficult trial or temptation. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

3. There is a sacrifice.

Many thousands upon thousands (some stats say upwards of 25,000 soldiers) lost their lives in the Revolutionary War.

So many sacrificed for a cause they believed so strongly in. So much blood was shed on the battlefields. Barely a family was untouched by the death of a loved one. Freedom is very costly, even today!

I encourage you to deliberately point to the sacrifice that Christ gave so we would have freedom from death and separation from God. Christ willingly went to the cross and shed His blood because of His great love for us (Hebrews 12:2).

Praise God that this freedom is not temporal, but eternal. There is no greater freedom than the freedom found in Christ. Help your grandchildren see this reality lived out in your life.

4. There is a new birth.

July 4^th signals the birth of a new nation. Similarly, when we place our complete confidence in and dependence upon what Jesus did on the cross for us, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Just as our nation had ups and downs learning to be a new nation, we too have had to learn what it meant to be a Christian. Show lots of grace and mercy as your grandchildren grow in their faith.

Share your spiritual journey with them. Do not be afraid to be vulnerable with them. We are far from perfect, so do not expect them to be perfect either.

Our new nation had to grow in so many ways which often proved to be a hard struggle. We too continue to grow in our grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Think of ways you can help your grandchild grow in their grace and knowledge.

What are some of the spiritual lessons you’re planning to share with your family this year?

Let us know in the comments below!