Romans 13.1 says, let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. The 4th of July is called Independence Day. It's the day in which the Congress of the United Colonies officially adopted the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. This document declared that the 13 colonies named in the document are now united in one national government as United States of America. These United States were now declaring their connections with the government of King George III of England as now being dissolved. This is one of the most important events in human history, and most Americans are familiar with this opening sentence. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And those are very important words, that's for sure. But there was one very long sentence that comes before those words. The actual opening of the Declaration of Independence reads as follows, quote, the unanimous declaration of the 13 United States of America. When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them. A decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." You see, those words open the Declaration of Independence in order to make it clear that this Declaration is a case against King George III and in defense of the actions taken by the United States of America. It's the reason America exists. And most Americans have no idea what the Declaration says or what it means. We're free, people say. We're Americans. All that stuff happened and that's fine, but I'm too busy enjoying my freedoms to take time to learn about the sacrifices and major historical events that produced these freedoms I am now enjoying. And that attitude, I believe, helps explain why America is in such a terrible condition morally and is going into the direction of Marxism and the end of the freedoms our founding fathers won for us. Such unthankfulness is a mark of the end of every nation that has come and gone in human history, and it's also the mark of the end times generation as described by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3, 1 and 2. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful. unholy. I'm not making some grand clarion call. I'm just asking everyone listening to this devotional to become more thoughtful and more thankful. Read a history book. a biography of the founding fathers. Listen to someone explain the text of the Declaration of Independence and consider the whole thing with an appreciation of the hand of God in history. As our text in Romans 13, 1 ends saying, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Consider the courage demonstrated. Consider the sacrifices made. Learn something about those men who signed that declaration saying that, quote, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. You'll learn to appreciate what's left of this American experiment, as it's called, and you'll be more thankful for the freedoms that you now enjoy. The same thing is true of the Gospel and of God's Word. The more you learn, the more thankful and appreciative you are for the life of God's Son, given to win eternal life for all who will repent toward God with faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, believing on His Gospel for forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation. The more you learn of the martyrs and the history of the Church, The wise will learn and that will then produce thanksgiving in their hearts for all that God has done for us.