Your Light Will Shine Matthew 5.16

Your Light Will Shine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5.16

Sermon for The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mt Olive, Illinois, February 8, 2026

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/27vJxWkifSVQLU1mT0JtxL

Introduction
     Dear Disciples of Jesus, on the first day of creation God created light. Light is the beginning of this world. Jesus told us that the problem of this world is that “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light… But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3.19-21). Everyone knows that light is important. It is important for life, and as the Bible says, it is important for goodness and holiness. 

     When we first moved up this way from the Metro-East, I noticed a charge on my electric bill for a large pole light - $12 a month! I thought, we don’t need that. I can save twelve dollars a month. I called the electric company to have that shut off. Right away we noticed how dark it was on our property. I had forgotten how nice it was in the city to have street lights everywhere. My family started to complain, so I called the electric company back, and told them to turn it back on. “I had been over-ruled.” The lady on the other end of the line just chuckled. Yet more important that physical light is spiritual light, and that is our theme for this week. Consider carefully what the Bible and what Jesus says about: 1. The Need of Spiritual Light, 2. The Source of Spiritual Light, and 3. The Shining of Spiritual Light in This World! 

The Need for Spiritual Light
    The Bible is very clear about this: Sin plunged the world into spiritual darkness. Isaiah said, “We look for light, but there is darkness!” (59.9). Paul warns us to “cast off the works of darkness… revelry and drunkenness… lewdness and lust… strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13.12-14). And John tells us, “He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2.11). 

     Not only is this the natural course of the world, the world tries to convince us that the darkness of sin and life without faith in God is normal. It creates false categories of truth, saying that we can be sure of some truths, those we can see like the temperature outside or the distance of a mile. But other truths, the truths which the darkness calls “religious,” are less certain. These are the reality of God and His laws against sin. The darkness goes even further, arguing there is no such thing as sin. It replaces sin with “problems” and “mistakes.” And, in many cases, these are not your fault. They are your parent’s fault or your neighbor’s fault, or your boss’ fault, or the government’s fault, or the church’s fault.” Isaiah warned: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5.20). When we look into our hearts and see that we have sinned, that we have lied, that we have had bad thoughts about others, that we didn’t do that good we should have done – we should recognize this as the darkness of sin.

     In vain the world tries to overcome the darkness of sin with its own artificial lights. These “lights” would include things like better communication, better relationships, better education, better government. All of these things are good gifts from God or can be if used in the right way. However, none of them get to the root problem of the darkness of sin. Sin is spiritual, and it needs a spiritual cure. That is why going home, going to school, going to work are all good things. But going to church is the best thing in addition to all of these.

The Source for Spiritual Light
     When I was a boy, I remember how certain businesses or cities would use giant search lights at night to attract attention. They would shine them up in the sky at night and move them around. You couldn’t help but see them and wonder, “Where are those coming from?” If you got in your car and drove around, you could usually find them. They might be coming from a car dealership that was running some kind of promotion, or a new movie premier, or a carnival. In Jesus’ time there was something similar. During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem four giant menorahs were set up, each over fifty feet high. Young priests climbed ladders to fill the bowls with oil. They used old priestly garments for wicks. When they were lit, it was said that there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that was not lit up. Jesus came to one of those festivals, and it was there that He proclaimed “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8.12). 

     The only thing that overcomes the darkness of sin is the light of God. David said in Psalm 18.28 “For You will light by lamp.” Paul said, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” (Ephesians 5.8). Micah (7.8) said, “When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.” Jesus is the true source of the spiritual light that brings us out of the darkness of sin. He is the “light of life.” You notice that in our church we have candles. They are carefully lit at the beginning of the service and carefully extinguished at the end of the service. Those candles are a symbol of this “light of life.” When they are lit, it means that we are gathered together to hear God’s word and to be enlightened by it. Jesus is the light in the sense that His truth and love come into the darkness of our hearts to forgive us, heal us, and cleanse us. He died for our sins so that our guilty feelings are banished. Our regrets are wiped away. Our fear is turned to courage. Our doubt is turned to faith. Our hate is turned to love. Our sadness is turned to joy. This is the light of life. This is Jesus. 

Shining the Spiritual Light in the World
     Now we come to our main teaching of Jesus for this week. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5.16). This light is such a wonderful gift that it is impossible to keep it to ourselves. Once God lights us up in Jesus, the world will notice. A young college student was very worried about an important physics test that had to do with the deep, physical properties of light. He and his classmates were worried about this difficult test. The day of the test came, and they all worked feverishly to answer the questions. After it was over a group of students walked away from the science building. They were all pretty sad-faced and thought they might have done poorly. But one student was smiling. “What are you smiling about?” they asked. “Do you think you aced that test?” “No,” the student said, “I just know that there are other things more important than physics. I have the light of life in Jesus.” This is what Jesus means when He said, “Let your light shine.” 

     When you hear this command, don’t be afraid of it. There is a little translation challenge here. In the Greek language this is not a command to a person. It is a command about a person. Unfortunately, we just don’t have a way of saying this in our English language. Perhaps a better way to say it is: “Your light will shine.”  Jesus isn’t telling you to do something that is difficult or something that you have to do by your own power. Remember this truth: Whatever God commands in the Bible, He gives us the power to do it. When we find ourselves in a situation in which we can shine the light of Jesus, we look to Him. He will make it happen. There are many ways this happens. Here are two examples:

     A man decided to find out which mechanics in his town were honest. He was a retired mechanic himself. He would take a car with a problem that only needed a simple fix, and he would see what happened. Many of the mechanics told him his car needed serious repairs. But one mechanic was honest, it was as easy, inexpensive repair. The retired mechanic asked him why he was honest when many others were not. He told him, “Jesus told me ‘whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them’” (Matthew 7.12). Another example is a hairdresser who would pray every morning, “Whoever sits in my chair today, please let them see Jesus in me.” Eventually one of her customers asked her, “Why do I feel so good when I leave here? It’s not just my hair that gets fixed.” The hairdresser told her about the prayer, and it eventually led her customer to Jesus. 

Conclusion
     This week remember the need for Spiritual Light. Our sins are darkness. Remember Jesus is the Source of the Light of our salvation. Pray for God’s command to come true: “Your light will shine.” Amen.  

Glorifying Jesus 2 Thessalonians 1.11-12

Glorifying Jesus

2 Thessalonians 1.11-12

 

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Introduction

 

     This is what I want you to think about today - these words from the Apostle Paul: "that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." When I was in college I liked to sing a song written by Bob Kilpatrick titled "Lord, Be Glorified." It has a very simple message: "In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today." It's a nice song and easy to play on the guitar, however it doesn't really say what it means to glorify God. But it is actually similar to the song the angels sang at the birth of Jesus, and which we sang already in our service, the Gloria in Excelsis. It is also very simple: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is well pleased" (Luke 2.14). In either case, if we want God to be glorified in us, it is important to know what it means and how it is done. That's my goal in this message today. 

 

What Does "Glorify" Mean?

 

     Let's look at some examples of the glory of God in the Bible. Moses told the children of Israel they would see the glory of the LORD when He provided them with manna and quail from heaven (Exodus 16). A few chapters later Israel saw the firey glory of the LORD on Mt. Sinai, and then upon the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. David said that "The heavens declare the glory of God..." (Psalm 19.1). The Apostle John began his gospel by telling us: "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (1.14). Jesus said that people would see the glory of God when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11.40), and when He himself died on the cross and rose again for the sins of the whole world (John 12 & 17). One of the ways we glorify God is to see His great works and to praise Him for them. We see the glory of God when we see the great works of God, especially His work of salvation in Jesus. 

 

     But there is another especially important part of glorifying God. We don't just glorify Him like spectators glorifying a winning team. Remember the Blues fans singing the song "Gloria" on their march to the Stanley Cup! Because this is God we're talking about and not man; no one can glorify God and His works without being affected by God and His works in their personal life. Imagine that for a moment. Can you think of anything so great that by looking at it or reading about it, it will completley change your life forever? That's the glory of God! This is why Paul says that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in us! Paul also said, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10.31). Peter said: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ..." (4.11). To glorify God begins when we see the glory of God, but it continues when we become part of those great works ourselves.  So let's look at some of the ways we see the glory of God today, and glorify Him by being a part of those glorious works of the Lord ourselves.

     

Conversion

 

     What is the first glorious work of God that we experience in our lives? It is our conversion. Paul spoke about the conversion of the Thessalonians in his first letter. He had come there and taught them for only three weeks. But in those three weeks the Thessalonians were dramatically converted. Every day, when the people of this Greek city looked up across the sea, they saw the famous Mt. Olympus. This was supposedly the dwelling place of the gods like Zeus, Poseidon, and Aphrodite. But after hearing about Jesus, and another mountain, Calvary, they, in Paul's words: "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (1.9-10). They saw the glory of God, and became part of the glory of God in their conversion! 

 

     How has that happened in your life? How were you turned from idols to serve the living and true God? For me it happened early in life when I was a baby. My Christian parents brought me to Jesus in baptism and taught me about Him every day after that. I can honestly say that I can't remember a single day in my life that I didn't know and believe in Jesus. However, that doesn't mean that my early conversion made things easy for me. I was constantly and still am afflicted with temptation. Sadly, there were many times when I wasn't living, as Paul says, "worthy of this calling." But an early conversion is always followed by God's many promises of preservation. I am so thankful for that - thankful for the countless times God has, as the Catechism says, "broken and hindered every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world and the sinful nature which do not want us to hallow God's name or let His kingdom come."

 

     Your conversion may have come later in life like the Thessalonians or Paul on the road to Damascus. He was going to imprison and kill Christians when it happened - A glorious, blinding light, knocked him off his horse. This light was Jesus in His glory, and He called Paul out for his sins and gave him the gift of forgiveness. Martin Luther was baptized as a Christian, but he wasn't taught the forgiveness of sins. Because of this he feared God and entered a monastery in the hope of pleasing this "unforgiving God." This God was really an "idol" created by the scholastic theologians of the church in the middle ages. In desperation he turned to a friend who simply told him to read the Bible. There he began to see the glory of God when he read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith''" (Romans 1.17-18). 

 

     Whether your conversion happened early in life or later, it was the glory of God coming into your life to save you from your sins. If you believe that, you are glorifying God, and His name is glorified in your life. 

 

Persecution

 

     How else do we glorify God? Remember how Jesus said He would be glorified in His death and resurrection? The glory of God is the opposite of the corruption of evil. When God preserves us in our faith, even when we are surrounded by evil, He is glorified in us. One of the reasons Paul wrote his two letters to the Thessalonians was because they were being heavily persecuted. You can read about this in Acts chapter seventeen. For three weeks Paul preached the good news of Jesus in the synogague at Thessalonica. Many Greeks believed, and among them was a man named Jason. Jason had allowed Paul and Silas to stay at his house. But those who didn't believe what Paul was preaching formed a mob and attacked Jason, dragged him to court, and accused him just as Jesus had been accused of proclaiming another king, contrary to the decrees of Caesar. The mob approach to things people don't like is nothing new. 

 

     What would happen if you were attacked by a mob for your Christian faith? Mobs are irrational. They aren't seeking justice because justice requires reason, debate, and democracy. Their purpose is to incite violence and to overpower their opposition by force. Mobs are the work of the devil, or another name given to that fallen angel in Revelation, "Apollyon," which means "destroyer." There is no way for a Christian to stand up against a mob. But there are two things that God does give the persecuted Christian: An insurmountable faith to be saved, and the wrath of God upon the persecutors. We need to keep these two things in mind at all times in this violent, mob-driven world. 

 

     Right now in Nigeria thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Muslims. It is a true genocide, and yet the world largely ignores it. Governments don't want to get involved. Who wants to face the wrath of the Jihad? But don't be discouraged. God gives us a faith that He preserves even unto death as we have all acknowledged in our confirmation vows. Yesterday was All Saints Day. This day was established in the 700s AD by Pope Gregory III. By that time so many Christians had been killed for their faith that no one could keep track of them all. All Saints Day remembers the martyrs "known and unknown" throughout the world. It is good for us to remember that kind of faith in the martyrs and pray for it ourselves. 

 

     But the other side of persecution is Judgment Day. While many persecutions may be ignored or forgotten by the world, not a one is forgotten by God. Paul's words are clear. He will bring tribulation and flaming vengeance upon those who persecute Christians when He comes to be glorified in His saints. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and will never see His glory. It is not our job to return evil for evil. Instead we've got better things to do.

 

Doing Good

 

     This brings me to the last thing in our reading from Paul that shows us how the name of Jesus is glorified in our lives. It is doing good. Paul calls it fulfilling "all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power." Paul gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians because they didn't go out and start a riot to destroy all the pagan temples. Instead he said they "abounded in love." Just as we glorify God by believing in Him and being converted from our idols to the living God; Just as we glorify God by faithfully enduring persecution and leaving the vengeance to God; So we also glorify God by doing the good pleasure of God and the work of faith with power. Jesus said this: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5.11). This has been the legacy of the Christian faith from its beginning. Help for the poor, hospitals, public education, universities, modern science, the ending of slavery, protection for the unborn and elderly - all of these are undeniably the fruit of the Christian faith and the glory of God in His true church. 

 

     The glory of God in us is fulfilled when a we simply ask, "How can I do good?" and when we pray to God to help us do good. We heard Isaiah say in the first lesson today: "learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause" (1.17). Psalm 34 says, "Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" (v. 14). This is one of the simplest things we can do, and it goes right to the core of who we are by the grace of God. 

 

     The summer I got married I worked for my father-in-law on his farm. He paired me up with one of his farm hands. Here I was a college graduate on my way to the seminary working side by side with a farm hand that couldn't read or write and probably couldn't count much past ten. What could I learn from him? I learned one of the most important lessons of my life that summer. I learned how to do good. Allen didn't have many skills beyond those of a low-level laborer, but he had some virtues that I will always remember. Allen never complained and never criticized, and most of all, he never did less than he was asked to do. He always did a little more. He did the good that he was able to do as humble as that was. 

 

     Many people preach the ethics of doing good, and I'm glad for that. I'd rather people try to do good than try to do bad. But without faith it's impossible to do the good that glorifies God. Without faith in God's word we don't even know what "good" is, let alone have the power to accomplish it. But remember all that Paul has been talking about here - how to glorify God in our lives - is a prayer. He said, "Therefore we also pray for you..." Doing good is a command - a good command. But getting it done is matter of grace. And that is exactly how Paul ends this chapter, "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Always remember that everything God tells us to do, He also empowers us to do. That's how grace works, and also how God is ultimately glorified in every way. 

 

Conclusion

 

     There have been many glorious events in the history of the world. The creation was glorious, the rainbow after the flood was glorious, the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai was glorious, the birth of Christ was glorious and sung by angels. The resurrection of Christ was glorious. Pentecost was glorious. Judgment Day will be glorious. But what about today? What about tomorrow? Will they be glorious? Can they be glorious? They certainly can. Pray for the glory of God in your life - in your baptism and conversion, in your enduring persecution if need be, and in simply doing good. "In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today!" 

Do Good to All - Galatians 6.9-10

Do Good to All

Galatians 6.9-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

Introduction

 

     Freedom is God's gift to us. Freedom is the forgiveness of sins in Christ. As we believe and do good, that freedom is preserved and given to others. John F. Kennedy was the youngest American elected to the office of president. On January 20, 1961 he gave his inaugural speech* to set out his goals. He boldly stated that the rights of man come from the hand of God not from the state. He said we would pay any price to assure the survival of liberty. He called our country to confront the problems of tyranny, poverty, disease and war.  He famously said: "My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." He concluded by appealing to God's blessing and help, "knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." What is God's blessing? What is God's help? And what is God's work that must truly be our own? The Bible beautifully answers all those questions, and shows us how the Christian life is exactly the life that every country on earth needs. 

 

Faith and Freedom

 

     God created all human beings to live and to thrive. He wanted Adam and Eve and all their decendents to “be fruitful and multiply.” He also wanted them to fear, love and trust in Him. In this way they would always have His blessings and do well in life. But sin breaks the bond between God and men. As soon as this bond is broken, men begin to try to dominate other men and to control them. Just as they refuse to love God, so they refuse to love their neighbor as themselves. This is the beginning of tyranny, and it takes at least two forms. First, there is material tyranny. Egypt enslaved Israel and forced them to labor until Moses led them to freedom. The Midianites plundered Israel until they were stopped by Gideon. Material tyranny robs people of their livelihood or life itself. The second, which often goes along with the first, is spiritual tyranny. This is a forced system of belief and worship. Daniel was forced to worship an idol and was thrown into a den of lions for refusing. Peter and John were put in prison for preaching in the name of Jesus. Spiritual tyranny robs a person or people of their conscience and faith. Why do these kinds of evil happen in this world? 

 

     Let me answer with a parable: A farmer once bought a herd of cows. They were not very healthy and had not been cared for in the past. He gave them food, water and good bedding until they regained their health and strength. But as they regained their strength a couple of the cows began bullying the other cows. They tried to get more of the food that the farmer gave to all of them. They deliberately butted and kicked the other cows in order to subject them to their own will. The farmer didn’t appreciate this because he wanted all the cows to thrive, not just a few who decided they would dominate all the others. Therefore the farmer had to ship these bullies off to the butcher.  

 

    Tyranny arises when men deny God's rule over them. They write their own rules for their own benefit. God told Israel that their kings must read the Bible all the days of their lives so that they would fear the LORD and "not lift up their hearts above their brothers" (Deuteronomy 17.19-20). This command applies to all of us at every level. Jesus taught us not to "lord it over" each other but to be servants to one another (Mark 10.42-44). A pastor, an employer, a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a friend -- must all treat others as God wants them to be treated. 

 

     Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to teach them that freedom is founded upon a loving relationship with God which is brought about through His mercy and the forgiveness of sins. Whenever we turn from this gospel, we deny our sin, become dominated by it, and inevitably begin to tyrannize each other. False teachers had come to the Galatians telling them that a good relationship with God must be achieved by obeying the Law. Humility, repentance, and forgiveness were being replaced by self-righteousness and pride. In chapter five Paul said, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of salvery” (5.1). The "yoke of slavery" is the denial of the gospel of forgiveness. As soon as this happens sin comes back to dominate our lives. As soon as we stop praying, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," we are no longer delivered from evil but instead ruled by it. If you really want freedom, focus on forgiveness. 

 

Freedom for All

 

     Just as we do not want to suffer the tyranny of sin in our hearts, so also we do not want to suffer the tyranny of others around us and especially of our leaders. What God does for us in our own hearts doesn't stop there. It is meant to spread and to benefit others. Our freedom in Christ is the freedom that God wants for all. President Kennedy said that one of the goals of his presidency was to fight against tyranny. He said he would do it with God's blessing, God's help, and "knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." What is God's work that we do to push back against tyranny? Paul also addresses this very thing in Galatians.

 

     It is found toward the end of his letter. Having explained that sin is the beginning of all slavery, and that Christ has ransomed us from this slavery in His own life, death and resurrrection, now he also mentions the importance of simply doing good: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6.9-10).

 

     First, God wants us to believe this faith and hold onto to it even if a thousand people call us evil for doing so. At the beginning of the letter Paul said, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (1.8). Jesus warned us not to follow false prophets, "who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7.15). Those who teach any other kind of "liberty" are setting us up for tyranny, and we must resist. 

 

     Second, if people are to find freedom through the forgiveness of sins, it is important that they hear the message of repentance and forgiveness in Christ. Not long ago Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" family died. Several years ago I read the story of his conversion to Christ. Phil described the point of his conversion by simply saying "When I came to repentance..." Matthew and Mark both summarize Jesus' preaching with one sentence: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4.17). One of the best ways to share the gospel with people is simply to describe what the gospel has done for you. "I have been brought to repentance. I have believed in the forgiveness of Jesus.  I am free from the bondage of sin." That is the simple message that the world needs to hear because that is the message that will put them on the course of true freedom. 

 

     Those who tyrannize others will do all that they can to turn us from our faith in Christ. They will do all they can to suppress the teaching of the gospel. But the one thing they have the most trouble suppressing are the good works of faith. This is why Paul concluded his teaching to the Galatians about freedom with the importance of good works. This is what President Kennedy meant by God's work being our work. Peter urged us “Have your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2.12).  Good works do not cause us to be saved. It was the good work of Christ that did that. Nevertheless our good works done by faith have a way of opening the eyes of the lost to see Christ in us and to hear the word of Christ that they would otherwise reject. We may work for an unbelieving person. But when we do a good job, it gets noticed. It can’t be denied. Your neighbor may not like your faith, but when you help them and make their life a little easier they will see that your beliefs have a good outcome. When someone says something ugly and unkind to you but you do not retaliate with the same thing, they notice.  It is true that some, those who are very hardened against God, may only be angered by good works done in faith. But there are many who God still wants to call. He calls them through us as they see us holding steadfast in our faith – even suffering for it, telling them what that faith is, and showing them the good that comes from that faith. 

 

Conclusion

     On this fourth of July weekend you might do some nice patriotic things like say the Pledge of Allegiance, read the Constitution and Bill of Rights, listen to patriotic music, watch fireworks, or even pay your property taxes. But one of the best things you can do for the sake of freedom is to believe in the true God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit – to the God of forgiveness and salvation. Sharing Christ's repentance and forgiveness with others, begining with your own household, spreads the true freedom of faith. Finally, doing good to all, whether friend or foe, points sinners to God that they might glorify Him. May God bless America and every country with many Christians who do this work of God. Amen. 

*John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Speech, January 20, 1961

 

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens:

We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge--and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do--for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom--and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required--not because the communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge--to convert our good words into good deeds--in a new alliance for progress--to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course--both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free."

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.