As I was pondering our 4th of July national celebration of freedom, I was reminded of the words to My Country Tis of Thee, a popular patriotic song written by Samuel Francis Smith and published in 1832. As you read ( and sing) the words, you’ll notice the influence of the Scriptures in its lyrics.

My country, 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty,
of thee I sing:
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside
let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
land of the noble free,
thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills
like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees
sweet freedom's song:
let mortal tongues awake,
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break,
the sound prolong.

As we walk with Jesus, let freedom ring. Let liberty’s song reverberate through our lives and proclaim to everyone the freedom of Jesus Christ that’s available to all.