“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

Happy 4^th of July! Today, in the United States, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We declared our freedom from the British Empire and became our own independent country, the United States of America.

How did your family celebrate the holiday weekend? Did you have a cookout or visit with family and friends? Are you going to watch fireworks tonight? Enjoy the celebrations!

Freedom is a hard thing to understand. Freedom is being able to do choose what you want to do or be as long as it doesn’t hurt or take someone else’s freedom away. Do you get to go outside for recess at school? (Do they still call it recess?) You have the freedom to run and yell and play as long as you don’t hurt anyone or keep them from doing what they want. Do your parents ever give you some “free time?” Time when you have the freedom to choose what to do as long as your choice doesn’t bother someone else.

Now let’s talk about what the Bible says real freedom is. The first two verses in John are the words spoken by Jesus. He tells us that the truth will set us free. That truth is that Jesus is the Son of God, He lived, He died for you, and He arose from the dead to conquer death for you.

You are free to choose to believe in Him. You are free to be saved by Jesus. You are free to be loved as a child of God. You are free to be forgiven. You are free to pray to Jesus. You are free to live your life and love others just as Jesus loves you. You are free to live forever with Jesus.

The last two verses are written by Paul to Christian churches. We are called by Jesus to be set free, but we don’t use this freedom to satisfy ourselves, we use our freedom to help others in love. Wherever Jesus’ Spirit is, there is your freedom.

This week, celebrate the 4^th of July and celebrate your real freedom in Jesus Christ your Lord!

Blessings and freedom in the Lord Jesus!