Freedom

Freedom.

When we think about the Fourth of July, many of us probably think fireworks, grilling, the lake, or 1776. That’s what is on my mind most of the time as well. What I think the Fourth is all about is freedom. Living here comfortably inside the States can often cause me to forget what is really going on around the world that allows us to be free.

Most of us had grandfathers that fought in the older wars to keep us free. So many of those men who fought with our grandfathers did not come back from those wars. Today there are so many with family members overseas fighting right now, even as you read this, for our freedom and to keep us safe. Mothers and fathers have had children die for our freedom.

Freedom is not free. There is always a price to be paid. Jesus knows this. He showed us the greatest price to be paid for the greatest freedom. He died to pay the price for our sin. He became the sacrifice for us. Romans chapter 6 paints a good picture of this for us:

1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I am so thankful that Jesus died and rose again for my freedom. I am also thankful for the men and women who have fought and are fighting for our freedom right now. They fight and die so we can live on, and they deserve our prayers. So today remember those people around the world and pray for them. And also remember what Jesus did, and pray and thank Him.

Have a great and happy Fourth of July.

Grace and Peace,

Doug – John 15:13