Daily Devotional
Patriotism

May 10, 2017

There are those who don’t want us to wave a flag. There are those who don’t want us to love America. Why? Because they think patriotism is wrong. Patriotism is not wrong. Just because I am patriotic doesn’t mean that I love other nations less. I simply have a special love for America because it is my native land.

I love my family in a way that I don’t love your family—or any one else’s family. They are MY family. The psalmist demonstrated this when he said, “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let My right hand forget her cunning” (Psalm 137:5). Love of the fatherland is not wrong.

We need to distinguish between rights and responsibilities. We have a responsibility to God and government, but our responsibility to God overrides any other responsibility. When our government is good, we should praise our government.

Romans 13:7 says, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

First Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”