Tag Archives: freedom

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Freedom

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Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  1 Peter 2:16

It’s the biggest birthday party of the year.  Tomorrow marks the annual celebration of our nation’s independence.  We show our American pride through parades, firework celebrations and red, white and blue-themed parties with friends and family.  We are a young bunch…a nation established just a little over 230 years ago.

July 4 is an important date to recognize our freedom as a country, but each day of our lives presents an opportunity to celebrate the independence granted through Jesus.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

The apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Galatia.  The birth and death of Jesus had freed people from the Jewish ceremonial laws and restrictive customs, but the citizens of this region had taken advantage of this independence.  They were falling away from the truth and were turning to false teachers and doctrines.

Paul encouraged the Galatians to return to the freedom created by Jesus.

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.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5: 13-14

I am no better than the Galatians.  The world is filled with temptation and sin.  We have choices in life, and I find it difficult to make daily choices that reflect a walk of truth, love and compassion.  With freedom comes responsibility.

My prayer for today is that we all walk toward Jesus.  Let us continually seek truth- and let us have the strength to continually live lives worthy of the freedom given to us from Jesus.

Please pray for me to have this strength.  And let me know how I may pray for you.

Celebrate freedom and independence from sin today.  It’s the best birthday gift ever.

God bless.

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Independence Day

America’s birthday! It’s a glorious celebration of our nation’s independence.

On July 4, 1776 our great nation officially separated from Great Britain to form a new republic. What a sense of pride and thanksgiving must have been felt by our nation’s people who had witnessed the oppression and bloodshed necessary for freedom. Freedom comes with a price and responsibility. I enjoy the 4th of July holiday the same way each year. We gather with Hollianne’s family in Atlanta to participate in the Peachtree Road Race 10k. It’s a great tradition, as Hollianne’s three brothers, their spouses and a host of nieces and nephews run this race together. It’s an incredible experience, as we run with 60,000 of our closest friends. Red, White and Blue is seen everywhere along the route. It’s a steady stream of visual reminders of what makes our country great- and what it means to be free. What a great honor it is as God’s people to experience the freedom of Christ. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 The death of Jesus on the cross has enabled us to live in freedom. We are free from the burden of sin because of His death, burial and resurrection. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16 We have a responsibility, however. We are urged to be an example for Christ while living on this imperfect earth. We need to share the good news of Jesus and of His love for us. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.Romans 6:22 Because of Jesus Christ, every day is Independence Day. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 May you enjoy this great celebration of independence, both of our country…and of your own freedom from sin and death. He lives- and because of that we are free. IMG_2466God bless.

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