“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 CSB
“So if the Son sets you free; you really will be free.” John 8:36 CSB
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13 CSB
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
First, Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday weekend with family and friends! Did you have a picnic or a BBQ or a cookout? Are you looking forward to fireworks? Today in the United States we celebrate the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, our declared freedom from British rule. And so, I have been thinking about “freedom.”
I looked up freedom in the dictionary; “freedom: the quality or state of being free.” Can I just say that a definition that uses the word or a part of the word doesn’t really count? Now that I got that off of my chest…
Freedom means different things to different people and at different times in their lives. Freedom from want, freedom from oppression, freedom of choice, freedom from slavery, freedom from government control, or freedom to be who you are.
I do want to share a couple of quotes on freedom in addition to my Biblical quotes at the top.
“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to do what is right.” Peter Marshall
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela
In the verses from John, Jesus is actually speaking to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus tells them, and us, that the truth of who Jesus is sets us free from the law, and our lives of sin and death. That with “the Son” we are truly free.
The other two verses are written by Paul to the various churches. Paul encourages all to be free of the flesh; to be free to serve each other in love. He continues to say that wherever the Spirit of our Lord is, there is our freedom.
Our true freedom is realized as children of God in the Lord’s kingdom!
So, this week, as we celebrate our nation’s freedom, let’s also celebrate our freedom in the truth of Jesus Christ.
I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we celebrate the 4th of July and our true freedom in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessings and freedom!
Peggy Writes 