For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

Today as we celebrate the birth of our nation and the freedoms preserved by the Constitution let us not forget to take time to thank God for allowing us to live in a land of freedom.

Let us contemplate what it means to be free and the responsibility that comes with such freedoms.

Let us pause to pray for those who live in this land of freedom and are yet still slaves, slaves to addiction, to bigotry, to pride, to fear, to money, and so many other chains and burdens of this old world.

Let us use the day off from work that many have been granted to ponder how we can best help others learn to live in true freedom.

As I consider freedom and how to help others truly be free, I keep coming back to John 8:36:

“So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”

I think also on Galatians 5:1:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.”

Oh sweet friend, are you living in freedom today?!

Can you say that you are truly free!?

• from worry,
• from doubt,
• from fear,
• from pride,
• from greed,
• from your past,
• from other people’s opinions,
• from tradition,
• from addiction,
• from prejudice,
• from judgement?

I can tell you wholeheartedly today that there is a way to be free of every negative thing and I can also tell you with great confidence that it won’t be found in our Constitution or our government. Our Constitution is an amazing piece of human writing and empathy. Our government makes laws all the time to try to further secure our liberties and that’s a wonderful thing to be celebrated for sure. And yet, we still have millions of people in this country living under one yoke of bondage or another.

BUT God – our Rescuer, our great Redeemer – God has made a way for us to be free from everything, free even from death itself!

Through the Son Jesus Christ, God created a way for us to be reconciled with Him, to triumph over death and live with Him forever in paradise (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:57).

But oh my friends, as if that weren’t enough, He has done so much more!

Through Jesus Christ, God has made a way for us to be personally connected to Him at all times, to live every day in the safety of His wings, in the joy of our salvation, in confidence that any trouble we encounter can and will be dealt with for His glory and our good (Romans 8:34-39).

Friends, if you have not experienced this freedom yet, don’t wait another day! Call on the name of Jesus, give your heart to Him, surrender to His kindness, accept His sacrifice and follow Him!

Brothers and Sisters who already know the freedom I speak of today, if you aren’t feeling very free of late, take this time to give your life a good long look. Is there something there that you are yoked to other than God? It may be something seemingly harmless like a lot of TV time or a lot of time thinking about things you don’t have. It may be something clearly physically harmful like drugs or alcohol or overeating. It may be something you fight not to notice like prejudice or pride or unChrist-like beliefs. Whatever it is, remember Galatians 5:1 and 5:13: Christ set us free to make us free of all things of the flesh; He set us free not so we could indulge ourselves, but so we will be better suited to help others. If anything in our lives is keeping us from loving and serving God or loving and serving others, ALL others, then that something has us in bondage. Bondage that Christ died to free you from experiencing. Don’t seek it out on purpose. Don’t strengthen it. Don’t submit to it. Give it to God. Ask Him to free you from whatever binds you. Be FREE for Christ died to make you free indeed!

These may be deep thoughts for a holiday, but what better day to fully consider freedom than Independence Day?

What better day to use our civil freedoms to celebrate the One who can make us free indeed!?

What better day to throw off all of the shackles and chains that seek to keep us down and fully embrace the One who has only ever wanted to lift us up!?

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