Yesterday, people all over the U.S. celebrated Independence Day. We
set off fire works, spent time with family, and ate a lot of good food in order to commemorate America’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In other words, we threw a big birthday
party for America.
When
we throw a birthday party for America, we often take time to appreciate the
freedoms we enjoy as its citizens.
We appreciate freedom from tyranny. We enjoy freedom from taxation without representation. We value freedom from censorship.
Christians
celebrate freedom too, but we recognize that freedom in Christ is a bit
different. Jesus not only saves
people from sin, death, guilt, fear,
isolation, and so on. Jesus frees
His people for a purpose. Christians are freed so that we might
live lives that glorify God. The
author of Hebrews describes it this way: “Now may the God
of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the
dead our Lord Jesus…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may
he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory
forever and ever." Being saved from death, frees us for a life lived for God's glory.
Having just celebrated all that you are freed from,
take time to think about what Jesus freed you for as a citizen of the Kingdom
of God. What has God freed you up
to do? If you have a story of
deliverance, share it with others.
If God has freed you from financial worries, give. If God has healed you, use your
newfound health to serve and care for others.
Recognize the opportunities Christ has given you through His saving
work. Use that independence and
liberty to bring God glory. This
Sunday, let freedom in Christ ring!
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