
Yesterday was the day that we, as a country, celebrate our freedom. It marks the day that the original thirteen colonies declared themselves independent of Great Britain and formed a new nation
~ July 4, 1776.
As our forefathers were 'enslaved' to Great Britain via 'taxation without representation,' we too were once enslaved.
Just as the the flag symbolizes, and the Declaration of Independence documents, our national freedom; the Cross symbolizes and the Bible documents an even more profound freedom.
Max Lucado writes, "Think of it this way. Sin put you in prison. Sin locked you behind the bars of guilt and shame and deception and fear. Sin did nothing but shackle you to the wall of misery. Then Jesus came and paid your bail. He served your time; he satisfied the penalty and set you free. Christ died, and when you cast your lot with him, your old self died too. The only way to be set free from the prison of sin is to serve its penalty. In this case the penalty is death. Someone has to die, either you or a heaven-sent substitute. You cannot leave prison unless there is a death. But the death has occurred at Calvary. And when Jesus died, you died to sin's claim on your life. You are free."
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~John 8:36
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life
has set you free from the law of sin and death. ~Romans 8:2
Over 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Woodrow Wilson stated, "The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation."
Freedom can be rendered useless if it is underutilized and taken for granted or misused.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up
for evil; live as God’s slaves. ~1 Peter 2:16
As we continue to celebrate our nation's freedom with our friends and family today, let's also take time this week to remember the freedom that we have because of Jesus Christ. Let's choose to live in a way that honor's His choice to pay our penalty at Calvary.
Because He Set Us Free...