What does July 4 mean to you? For many, it could mean a day off work with parades and cookouts with food, family, friends and fireworks. It may briefly bring to mind the events of July 4, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence, which led to the birth of a new nation. Being born and raised in the heart of America, most of us probably take our freedoms for granted and assume things will always be like they are now. We are pretty fortunate and don’t often consider what our lives would be like if we were born in another part of the world, or even a different time in America. If you look at the history of America over the past 200 years, or have traveled to different parts of the world where freedoms and opportunities we take for granted don’t always apply, you start to get a better idea of the pros and cons of living where you do. We don’t often appreciate what we have until those things are taken away from us. What freedoms do you value most in your life?
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
While we may think we are fortunate and free here in the good ol USA, when we take a close look at our lives, we may see some slightly different stories. Fifty years ago, many of us would have found a good job out of high school or college and committed our lives to working the 9 to 5 to bring home a paycheck for our families. We may have been loyal to our employer and they would have treated us well to maintain good employees. Over time, that loyalty may have eroded a bit. No job is guaranteed anymore and uncertainty may creep into our relationships. We don’t always trust that others have our well being as part of their agenda. We become distracted by what’s going on in the world around us and become addicted to money, entertainment, games, politics, our phones, and substances that make us forget our troubles, but then can trap us in other ways. We become indebted and enslaved to sin and the things around us that control our lives, and the freedom we thought we had was part of the problem. What things in your life you once thought were good actually ended up dragging you down?
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
The only true freedom I have found has been in Christ. He breaks all the strongholds that sin and the world have on us and set us free from their power in our lives, time and time again. The initial freedom we experience when we realize our salvation is not through works is freeing, but the impact that has in all parts of our lives keeps growing when we allow it to reach every part of our lives and being. What areas of your life do you still need to surrender to the power of Christ? Allow Him to lead you into new freedoms as you surrender more and more to Him.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Yours in Christ,
Clark
