A WORD FOR TODAY, July 3, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
We pray you have been blessed by this daily devotion. If you received it from a friend, you can see other devotions and studies by visiting our website at www.awordfortoday.org.
Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, July 3, 2025
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:2-6, WEB
On July 2, 1776, two-hundred and forty-nine years ago, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain, a key step towards the official Declaration of Independence on July 4th. The Declaration was officially adopted two days later, establishing the independence of the thirteen colonies. We celebrate Independence day every year on July 4th, and plans are already being made for the Semiquincentennial (two hundred and fifty years!) Celebration next year. The reality is that the Declaration was just the beginning of the fight for freedom. The armies had already been at war, but it lasted for seven more years. Though the British surrendered at York in 1781, the war continued until he Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783.
One of the commentators I heard yesterday talked about how the real anniversary of our independence is actually the day when the Congress voted, July 2nd, and he wondered why we actually celebrate on the 4th. This was a question that has been asked throughout our history, including by some of the founding fathers at the very beginning. When I heard the commentator talk about the two days, I wondered about the day in between. Was there a reason for waiting? What happened on July 3rd, 1776?
A quick google search shows one thing of note: John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, reporting to her the vote from the previous day. John and Abigail had an incredible relationship. They were married for over fifty years, and Abigail was more than just a wife. She was one of John’s closest advisors, especially during John’s political career. They had a profound love and wrote to one another often. There are more than a thousand letters, which grant us a unique look into their lives, their thoughts on the revolution and the early years of the new nation. It is not surprising, then, that the letter John wrote on July 3rd would give us a glimpse of his ideas about what happened a day earlier.
John wrote that things might have been different had they voted for independence months early, some of which would have been “great and glorious.” They might have been able to form alliances and affect foreign affairs. The vote was put off because many had the hope that there could be reconciliation and that war could be averted. He thought suggested that a quick vote might have saved the lives of many soldiers who died of pestilence during the fight. John then revealed the other side the argument, pointing out the advantages of the wait. The loss of hope in reconciliation was actually a good thing, because it built a common bond between those who disagreed about the future of the nation. The nation, and those arguing for and against independence, had time to mature. They could all learn through discussions in newspapers and pamphlets. The fears dissipated and a new hope grew. By 1776, the declaration was adopted by the whole people, not just a slight majority (except New York, which abstained.) John wrote, “This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.”
Then he wrote, “But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”
While we only have this letter from John Adams to Abigail from July 3rd, I imagine that the other members of the Continental Congress were having similar thoughts about what they had done the previous day. The vote was taken, the deed was done, but they had this in-between day. John Adams sounds very confident in his letter, but the reality for those members was not easy. They had committed treason from the perspective of the British Crown. They risked death. The nation was already at war. Men were dying. People were suffering. But this day two-hundred and forty-nine years ago was day when those men had a chance to encourage one another, share the good news, build up their courage for what would have to be done on July 4th. Some, if not all, would have spent the time in prayer and thanksgiving.
We all have periods when we are between times. The disciples had to wait between the crucifixion and the resurrection, between the ascension and Pentecost. There are moments when we have to wait for something to happen. Today we stand between the promise of eternal life and the fulfillment of all God’s promises that will happen in God’s time. We are in the “already but not yet.” What do we do during the “in-between”? Paul tells us to continue in prayer, thanking God, walk in wisdom, speak with grace. During this time God will build our faith and courage. He will give us what we need to do whatever He intends us to do. It isn’t easy. It is even dangerous. We have work to do as we wait, sharing the Good News with those who will hear.
A WORD FOR TODAY is posted five days a week – Monday through Friday. The devotional on Wednesday takes a look at the scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. A WORD FOR TODAY is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Word-for-Today-Devotional/339428839418276. Like the page to receive the devotion through Facebook. For information and to access our archives, visit http://www.awordfortoday.org