On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stood near the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery. There, he delivered what is considered by many to be his most famous speech and one of the best known speeches in american history. Four score and seven years ago, Lincoln said, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do so. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note or long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. On July 4, we Americans celebrate our independence as a free nation. We pride ourselves for being one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We still hold that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But the ideals for which our nation strives are sometimes forgotten, often lost in the bickering and divisive spirits of those holding opposing views. This is not good, and it is far from right. Brave men and women have given their lives to win, protect, and preserve our freedom. Each elected president of our country solemnly swears to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of these United States. The men and women enlisting in the armed forces swear to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, bearing true faith and allegiance to the same. The Bible commands us to submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Romans 13 one Jesus warned that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And the psalm reminds us that it is good and pleasant when brothers live together in unity. Let us this day remember that we are one nation. Let us disagree, but do so agreeably, and let us dedicate ourselves anew to be worthy of the life and freedoms for which so many have paid the greatest price of all. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com dot. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.