July is here! It is time for family vacations, fun in the
sun and the 4th of July celebration.
On the 4th we there will be a lot of grilling, family, and
fireworks. I once heard someone say that we are, “celebrating the birth of our
country by blowing up a piece of it!”
But what are we celebrating on the 4th of July?
The primary emphasis of celebrating Independence Day is celebrating our
freedoms we enjoy in this great nation. Just a few of them are the freedom of
speech, assembly, and, perhaps most notably, freedom of religion. We are so
blessed to live in such a country!
As Christians we always have to remember, however, that our
greatest freedom comes in Christ. In the book of Galatians Paul reminds us
that, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand
firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,”
(5:1). Without Christ we are enslaved by our selfish desires or forces outside
our control. This Independence Day, I want us all celebrate as Christians.
Free, through Christ, not just from the guilt but the power of sin. Further,
this freedom is not meaningless. Instead we are freed so that we can do what we
can seek and live out who God has called us to be. May God bless you as you
seek to become freed son or daughter of God.
In Christ,
