Whenever I think of July, I always think of the fourth—it’s a Pavlovian response for me. But for the last sixteen years, I haven’t thought of the Fourth of July in quite the same way as I used to. Oh, I still think of the Fourth as the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and I still love the celebrations for our country, but for the Ferguson family it’s gained a whole new meaning—it’s the birthday of our youngest child.

We still celebrate the day like nearly everyone else—we still go to the fireworks every year—but we do it differently than nearly any other family. At the celebration we eat birthday cake and we watch our daughter open her birthday presents. Right there in the middle of everyone else’s whatever-ing, we have a birthday party, not for the United States, for Kelsey.

And that brings two thoughts to mind. The first is that all days that the world celebrates should be different for the believer. I mean, isn’t that part of what Psalm 118.24 is all about—this is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 1 Corinthians 10.31—whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God—-adds to that the idea of bringing glory to God for everything and in every moment. For us, every day is a celebration of God’s creation, and especially of what God has done for us in Christ. Every day is a celebration of the forgiveness we have received, the new life we enjoy, the power we can employ over temptation and sin. While the world parties to forget, we commemorate, daily, the work of Christ on the cross and the mercies of God that are new every day, (Lamentations 3.22-23.)

The other thought is that while this country celebrates its independence, we, the Fergusons, celebrate family, at least one member of the family. One of the things we have forgotten as a nation is that societies are built on the foundation of the family. Independence is really interdependence and that is learned in the context of a family. When Christ calls us to Himself, he places us in His family, His Body, the Church, (see Ephesians 5.23, where God likens the Body of Christ to marriage and the family.) We all need each other, and we all should celebrate each other. Isn’t that part of what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12.21-23, when he talks about the eye needing the hand and how we give honor to all parts of the body?

So, this month when you celebrate America’s independence, remember that in Christ you have a greater reason to celebrate, daily, and a greater celebration: the glory of God. And remember that you also are part of a greater, or more extended family, and celebrate them, too. Wow! What a Fourth! You think about that!

– Pastor Jim